Life & Culture

The UK is bursting with energy and has a fascinating heritage ready to explore. As an international student you'll fit straight into the UK's multicultural society, ready to enjoy a student life full of excitement, fun and creativity. Study in the UK and you'll find an array of exciting experiences to discover - music, celebrations, accents, people to meet, places to visit - the list is endless. As the UK is such a cosmopolitan society you'll find that many UK customs are already familiar to you - so you'll settle in faster than you think.

The UK is known for having a multicultural society with all religions and faiths represented in some way. With a racial, ethnic and religious jumble, the UK is very open to new traditions and cultures - something that is a great thing for students from other countries! You can also be sure that a place of worship will be easily accessible for most major religions. Music is a big part of UK culture. Whether you just listen or take part, you'll find pop, rock, electro, hip-hop, classical, folk, jazz, opera and all sorts of world music. From small clubs, independent cafes and bars to international scale concert halls, rock festivals or gigs, you can listen and dance to live music all over the UK. Many big-name and independent artists and bands play at UK university or college venues too.

Finding somewhere to live when you study in the UK doesn't have to be a chore - you just need to know your options. You can choose between halls of residence, private student accommodation or even lodging in a family home. If you do have any health issues while you're in the UK then the UK health services are very accessible, and many international students are entitled to free and subsidised treatment on the NHS (National Health Service). If not and you require international student health insurance, you can still make use of the UK's excellent health services. It's easy to stay safe and secure while you study in the UK. British police have a duty to protect everyone, but you should be aware of your own personal safety.

There are plenty of options for travelling in the UK. Whether you've just arrived or you're ready to start exploring, the UK transport network will take you from the largest cities to the smallest villages. You can travel by train, bus, taxi or bicycle throughout the UK - with plenty of discounts available to international students. Connecting with friends and family back home is easy when you're studying in the UK. You can get good deals on international calls from the UK and international parcel delivery is very reliable. High speed internet access is also available in your UK place of study and many libraries, shops and cafes.

The UK offers an incredible and beautiful landscape for walking, climbing, cycling, mountain-biking and running. The mountains of Scotland and Wales, the rolling hills of England and Northern Ireland, the Lake District and the Yorkshire moors, as well as the coastline of all parts of the UK will be all around you. Many UK institutions have state-of-the-art sports facilities, but you can also use local authority or private leisure centres to keep fit and healthy. As a student in the UK, there are many opportunities to attend or participate in organised sports activities, or get involved in charitable events like sponsored walks and runs. You could even try to join the world famous London Marathon or one of the increasingly popular Bupa Great Runs.