Cost and Funding

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, British university students have grown accustomed to doing much of their learning online. But while remote learning is intended to keep us safe, it also comes with a handful of drawbacks.

For example, some students find it much harder to focus at home amid the inevitable household clutter, than they do in a more formal classroom setting. That’s why many students (and parents) have turned to House Doctor to create home-study environments more conducive to online learning.

Upbeat Décor

House Doctor offers a wide range of attractive furniture and interior-decoration accessories that will both soothe your mind and brighten your study-space. From table lights and comfy lounge chairs to sumptuous pillows and laundry baskets, House Doctor has everything the meticulous student needs to improve his or her concentration.

After all, studies have found that a well-ordered, stress-free environment can improve students’ focus by as much as 50 per cent. This means they can listen to their professor longer, thus absorbing more information, than they would in an untidy, less attractive setting.

So before you attend that next big lecture online, be sure to check out House Doctor’s student-friendly product line to ensure you derive the maximum benefit from your remote learning experience.

As mentioned above, you can get financial support from the government for your undergraduate studies. Here’s a rundown of the options you have, when it comes to funding your studies in the UK.

Student Loan

The government can fund both your tuition fees and living costs if you’re a home student. Who’s a home a student? You’re considered a home student if you’re from the UK or EU. A loan may appear to be a large amount. But if you’re eligible, why not go for it. It’s like paying tax in the future. And moreover, you only pay back the loan once you get a job and start earning.

Scholarships and Bursaries

If you don’t want to apply for student loans, you may opt for scholarships and bursaries. You can get such financial support from universities, educational trusts, companies, and charitable organisations. Bursaries and scholarships are awarded on merit, so be sure to sell yourself in the right way possible. You may excel in sports or a particular subject to convince sponsors, or your university, that indeed you need financial help for your undergraduate studies. As an international student, you may also apply for bursaries.

Grants

Interestingly, you may get a grant if you’re a UK resident, and you financially support other people, especially your family, or you’re on a low income. There are basically three types of dependants’ grants, namely Childcare Grant, Parent’s Learning Allowance (but this doesn’t apply to Scotland), and Adult Dependants Grant.

International Organisations

You can also get loans from international organisations, such as the United Nations and Fullbright Commission. The World Council of Churches, the Soros Foundation, AMIDEAST, and the World Health Organization may also grant you aid, regardless of where you come from.

Family

It’s no guarantee that you’ll access student loans or any other type of financial support to aid your studies, especially if you’re not a resident of the United Kingdom. The biggest support still comes from your family and guardian. A study by the Institute of International Students (IIE) shows that about 65% of international students are funded by their parents. Speak to them in advance, and tell them what and where you want to learn.

Still not sure how to pay for university or how you’ll cope up even if you don’t have enough money? Visit the UCAS website to check a range of financial support available.

How much will it cost to study in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland? If you’re interested in studying in the UK, it’s essential that you consider the costs of every aspect of university life, to determine if everything is covered and affordable.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees in the UK vary from one university to the other. The fees you pay also depend on whether you’re a resident of Britain or you come from a foreign country. As a home student, you pay up to £9250 or $13050 per year. And as a foreign student, you pay between £10000 and £38000 per year. The good news is that you may apply for a student loan to cater for your tuition.

Accommodation

If you stay, or your university is located, in London, then you’re likely to incur fairly high accommodation costs. Expect to pay an average rent of £640 a month. In other towns, you’ll pay approximately £535 per month, which is £125 every week. But the average annual cost for rent across all universities in the UK is £4875. This means that at the end of your three-year undergraduate degree, the expected cost is £14625. Most rents include different kinds of bills, but still, you may have to cater for certain bills on top of the rent. You may apply for a maintenance loan from the government to cover your accommodation and other living costs.

Other Living Costs

In addition to the tuition and accommodation fees, you need to pay for other essential costs, such as utility bills, books, university equipment, food, and transport. Expect to pay over £20 a week on travel, which includes buses, trams, trains, and the London Underground. Outside London and other major cities, you’ll pay an average of £45 per month on travel. University equipment and books may cost you about £60 a month. How about the phone bills? On average, your mobile phone bill will cost you about £5 every month.

When it comes to food, you pay an average of £50 per week. But this could be slightly lower if you’re in the private catered halls. Note that your food bill depends mostly on your diet and the place you eat or live. As a student, you’re likely to receive a discount in many gyms. Averagely, you’ll pay £50 a month for exercise and training. Other essential costs cover gigs, drinks, event entry, and entertainment.

Although there are various universities to choose from in the UK, there are some steps you can take to narrow down your options.

• Research Online

Most, if not all, courses are on UCAS. You just need to filter them according to the courses they offer, and where they’re located. Generally, the university you want to enrol in has a website and other online platforms, such as social media sites. Ask questions via web chats and check out their Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, to see what they’re doing, and what students say about them. You may also check their YouTube to get a glimpse of their premises.

• Attend Open Days

Before you join any university, it’s crucial that you physically visit the university, and spend as much time possible there. You get the real picture of the institution when you’re there. Talk to as many people as you can and ask questions. By the end of your visit, you will know whether the university is worth joining.

• What Is the Course Structure?

It is evident that you want a course which fits your schedule. Conduct a university course structure search to assess the courses they offer and their respective structures. You might already know what you want to do in the future. Or you may want to further your studies based on your career choice. So be sure to check the course content or material, to ascertain if that is what you want. Find out if the course has a lot of exams, group work, and essays.

• Location of the University

It’s essential that you think about the location of the university you want to join before you pay and begin your studies. How expensive is the accommodation in this area? Do you prefer a busy and noisy city or want a quiet campus in the countryside? London is relatively expensive when compared to other cities. Moreover, if you wish to find employment opportunities, you may want to join an institution that’s located in an urban centre.

• Extra-curricular Activities

You’re likely to attend university for more than three years. So you need to look beyond the curriculum. Choose the university according to the activities you want. Does the university have a winning football team or an active film society? If you love sports, go to the institution which is good in this area.

• Reputation is Everything

You’ll know a good university by its name, in that people will speak well about it. Find out how the university ranks among the best. You may read reviews about the institution before you decide whether you’ll join it or not. Be sure to also narrow down on the department you’re interested in. Some departments in the same school may have varying reputations.

The school year in the UK education system is usually arranged into terms, but this is bound to change from one institution to the other. Generally, a university academic year in Britain runs September to June. In essence, you learn for three terms from September to December, January to March, and April to June. The third is usually the most important, and you’re likely to do more essays, group work, and sit for the main exams during this period. There’s an emerging trend, though, where postgraduate programmes start in January and end in August or September. Masters students, on the other hand, have summers to complete their dissertations.

Some universities, though, are emulating the American academic (calendar) structure, in that they use semesters, and split the school year into two. The semester system means that you’ve class times at different times of the year. The University of Liverpool is an example of the universities echoing the American semester system.

Do you want a break from your studies? Like any other student, you want some time off to reflect on other vital matters in life, such as family and business. In most cases, your holiday lasts for three to five weeks and 12 to 14 weeks. Although vacation times differ, the main holidays are the summer holidays, Christmas, New Year, and Easter. If you live in university accommodation, you may be asked to return home, because most facilities are closed during this period. But as an international student, you can contact your school for an alternative arrangement. Most international students use this period to explore the UK and Europe, in general.

It’s essential that you inquire about the school calendar, including holidays before you join the university.

Ever heard of reading weeks where you’ve one or two weeks just to read certain sections of the textbooks or do some research online? These are like holidays where you’re given some days away from the classrooms. One important thing you need to know about universities in the UK, is that they prefer lectures, rather than giving reading assignments to students. This is different from the universities in the USA and other countries with different educational systems. In most UK universities, a lecturer will give notes and explain various concepts. But there’s a growing trend, where some universities are adopting the ‘Reading Weeks’ academic structures, especially in arts subjects. Arts subjects tend to have longer reading lists when compared to other topics. This is not just a perfect opportunity to relax and explore the country. You use this time to read the provided assignment and, possibly, complete tasks, which contribute to your end-term exam. Reading weeks usually come in the middle of the first term or semester. This is the last week of October or the first week of November. As reading becomes more and more popular, you want to complete reading the assignments quickly to save time for other important matters.