On this page you can find practical advice for living and studying in the U.K. There are a number of external links presented below which address some of the key issues which international student face when studying in the U.K. There is also a comprehensive list of U.K Radio Stations, U.K Newspapers and British Universities. Students often ask me where is a good place to take a weekend trip. Below are a number of places which I recommend for international students in the U.K to visit. Each place has a photograph, a small description as well as an external link which will provide much more detailed information on location, accommodation and things to do. Next to each place there is a link to the AA Route Planner which is an excellent tool for driving instructions, distances, maps etc. If you have never used the Route Planner try clicking on the link below to watch a basic tutorial video.

Click here to watch a multimedia tutorial style video of the AA ROUTE PLANNER

Click here to view a downloadable map of all UK Universities




International Student Resources

Academic English Course Guide - an excellent course guide provided by BALEAP.
Applying to U.K Universities - British Council guide to applying to a British university.
British Council Course Guide - search for a university course using this search tool.
Comprehensive Guide to Living in the U.K - excellent resource for information.
Cost of Living in the U.K - advice on the cost of living in different areas of the U.K.
Culture Shock in the U.K - a personal account of dealing with culture shock in the U.K.
English in Britain Course Guide - another guide to study in the U.K.
Guide for Chinese Students in the U.K - comprehensive guide written in Chinese / English.
Guide to Culture in the U.K - a downloadable PDF from the British Council.
International Student Advice Centre - promoting student studies from overseas.
Student Safety in the U.K - twenty tips on staying safe in the U.K.
Student Visa Information - excellent question and answer style visa guide for students.
The Times Good University Guide - the 2007 university league table.
Visit Britain Multilingual Guide - the best guide on travelling to and living in the U.K.
100 U.K Questions & Answers - introduction to the U.K with 100 questions answered.




U.K Radio Stations

BBC Radio 1 - live music and interviews;dance; alternative; soul; urban and r&b.
BBC Radio 2 - adult contemporary and MOR music; oldies and easy listening.
BBC Radio 3 - classical; opera; jazz; world music at certain times.
BBC Radio 4 - news and current affairs; arts and science; plays and weather.
BBC Radio 5 - news and sport; live sports commentary; phone-ins and special guests.
BBC Radio 6 - new rock, indie and alternative music; soul and funk music.
BBC Radio 7 - speech, drama, comedy and novels; childrens' programmes.
BBC Asian Network - programmes, music and features for Asian listeners.
BBC World Service - world news and current affairs; sport; other features.

Capital Radio - free live radio, live sessions, music videos, competetions and more.
Classic FM - classical music; opera; features.
Core Radio - mainstream contemporary music.
One World Radio - plays and spoken words, every day from 06:00 to midnight.
Talksport - sports phone-ins and talk shows.
Virgin Classic Rock - lays 10 great songs in a row, every hour, all day.

Virgin Radio - adult contemporary music; football results; rock and soft rock classics.




UK Newspapers

Daily Express - (UK) features a mix of news and scandal.
Daily Mail - (UK) a very popular newspaper which features a mix of news and scandal.
Daily Mirror - (UK) lots of gossip, scandal and celebrity related stories.
Financial Times - (UK) news from the financial world.
Guardian Unlimited - (UK) excellent newspaper with an easy to use website.
News of The World - (UK) scandal and celebrity related stories on a Sunday.
Sunday Mirror - (UK) scandal and celebrity related stories on a Sunday.
The Independent - (UK) British broadsheet newspaper with wide variety of news stories.
The Sun - (UK) lots of gossip, scandal and celebrity related stories.
The Times - (UK) wide ranging broadsheet newspaper from England.




British University List

Aberdeen University - Scotland's third oldest and the fifth oldest in the UK.
Abertay Dundee University - a modern new university in the sunniest city in Scotland.

Anglia Ruskin University - over 28,000 students on two main campuses.

Aston University - a self contained environment right in the centre of Birmingham.

The University of Bath - set in an attractive campus about a mile from the centre of Bath.

University of Bedfordshire - challenging and innovative teaching and learning.

Bradford University - the university has around 10,000 students.

University of Brighton - the university has four campuses in two great locations.

University of Brimingham - 30,000 staff and students live and work at Birmingham.

Bristol University - aims to provide an excellent student learning experience.

Brunel University - world-class university based in Uxbridge, West London.

University of Buckingham - Britain's only independent university.

University of Cambridge - a confederation of Colleges, Faculties and other institutions.

Canterbury Christ Church University - a student population of over 14,000.

University of Central England - established by statute in March 1992.

University of Central Lancashire - one of the largest in the UK with over 32,000 students.

University of Chester - one of the oldest providers of higher education in the country.

City University - began in 1894 and gained its Royal Charter in 1966.

Coventry University - has a 33-acre campus in the heart of Coventry.

Cranfield University - a postgraduate research-intensive university.

Derby University - two main campuses at Derby and Buxton.

University of Dundee - since 1994 the university has more than doubled in size.

Durham University - a world-class university in two locations.

University of East Anglia - provides quality academic facilities to over 13,000 students.

Edinburgh University - one of the top 10 universities in Europe.

University of Essex - there are currently around 7,553 students at the university.

Exeter University - campuses in Exeter and Cornwall.

Glasgow Caledonian University - 90 undergraduate, 40 postgraduate programmes.

University of Glamorgan - friendly community and supportive atmosphere.

Glasgow University - fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world.

University of Gloucestershire - with campuses in vibrant, attractive Cheltenham.

University of Greenwich - the university traces its roots to 1890.

Heriot Watt University - Heriot-Watt is a vibrant, forward looking university.

University of Hertfordshire - an ambitious and entrepreneurial university.

Huddersfield University - Huddersfield is a great place to live and learn.

University of Hull - a progressive university.

Keele University - campus university which occupies a 617 acre estate.

University of Kent - an excellent social life and superb facilities.

Kingston University - a corporate body created by statute.

Lancaster University - international recognition for the quality of its teaching and research.

University of Leeds - the current academic year has over 32,241 students.

Leeds Metropolitan University - over 52,000 students and 3,500 staff.

University of Leicester - an award winning institution attracting top academics.

De Montfort University - was known as Leicester Polytechnic until 1992.

University of Lincoln - has invested over £100M in its facilities.

Liverpool University - chosen as the Capital of Culture in 2008.

Liverpool Hope University - an ecumenical Christian Foundation.

Liverpool John Moores University - at the heart of one of the most exciting cities in the UK.

University of London Birkbeck College - Birkbeck is a world-class research institution.

University of London Goldsmiths College - for more than a century with the UL.

University of London Heythrop College - postgraduate degrees in Theology and Philosophy.

University of London King's College - 13,000 undergraduate students and 6,200 graduates.

University of London Queen Mary - a diverse environment for its 13,000 students.

University of London Royal Holloway - officially opened by Queen Victoria in 1886.

University of London SOAS - language scholarship, disciplinary expertise and regional focus.

London Metropolitan University - traces its roots back to 1848.

London South Bank University - one of the capital’s oldest universities.

Loughborough University - reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

Manchester Metropolitan University - has a varied population and student base.

University of Manchester - Britain's largest single-site university.

Middlesex University - works with prestigious partners throughout the world.

Napier University - a dynamic, innovative and forward-looking institution.

Newcastle University - traces its roots back to 1834.

University of Northumbria - sixteen of Northumbria's subjects are rated as excellent.

The University of Northampton - became a full university in 2005.

Nottingham University - the university’s campuses are simply superb.

Nottingham Trent University - receives the highest numbers of applications in the country.

The Open University - distance learning specialists.

Oxford University - 130 nationalities are represented among a student population.

Oxford Brookes University - a premier teaching and learning institution.

Paisley University - in the process of changing name to University of the West of Scotland.

Plymouth University - in a beautiful south coast setting.

The University of Portsmouth - a changing, thriving city, with a modern diverse campus.

Queen's University Belfast - the best of tradition with a progressive outlook.

Reading University - one of the UK’s 10 most research-intensive universities.

Robert Gordon University - a top university for graduate employment.

Roehampton University - a stimulating environment in the south-west of London.

St.Andrews University - Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the UK.

University of Salford - one and a half miles from Manchester.

The University of Sheffield - one of the best Student Unions in the country.

Sheffield Hallam University - a leading university in e-learning.

University of Southampton - 20,000 students and 5,000 staff.

Staffordshire University - created as a degree giving university in 1992.

Stirling University - one of the top 5 universities in Scotland.

The University of Strathclyde - right at the heart of Glasgow.

Sunderland University - Sunderland gained city status in 1992.

University of Surrey - a prime location in beautiful surroundings.

University of Sussex - received its Royal Charter in August 1961.

University of Teesside - one compact site in the centre of Middlesbrough.

University of Ulster - over 23,000 local, national and international students.

University of Wales - has 9 affiliated universities throughout Wales.

University of Warwick - recently voted the best campus in the UK.

University of the West of England - growing university in the thriving city of Bristol.

University of Westminster - more than 23,800 students undertaking degrees.

The University of Winchester - a small university of just over 5,600 students.

University of Wolverhampton - over 340 undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

University of Worcester - tranquil green campus supports a vibrant community.

University of York - founded in 1963 with 200 students.




Places to Visit in the U.K


Stratford - upon - Avon :



Stratford-upon-avon is situated in the heart of the English midlands. A market town dating back to medieval times, Stratford is today most famous as the birthplace of the Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the town each year to visit the historic properties associated with Shakespeare, go to the theatre and enjoy the many attractions in the town and surrounding area.

Stratford also has much to offer the gourmet, with a wide variety of well priced restaurants offering local and international cuisine. Many restaurants offer pre-theatre dinners, timed to ensure you don't miss the performance. Some also cater for the late-night needs of peckish theatre goers once the performance has finished.

http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




North Wales :



North Wales has many family attractions from zoos and farm parks to steam trains and leisure centres and events from cultural festivals and agricultural shows to family fun days. The area also offers a wide range of activities including walking, cycling, fishing, golf and watersports to name but a few.

To the West lies Snowdonia, a magnet for climbers and walkers and on the Llyn Peninsula you will find some of the best sailing and surfing beaches in North Wales.

The Isle of Anglesey is surrounded by 125 miles of coastline and a host of historical sites whilst the North Wales Borderlands is dominated by the spectacular Clwydian hills and interesting market towns on Chester's doorstep.

http://www.nwt.co.uk/home.php - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




St. Ives, Cornwall :



St Ives, Cornwall is a small town in the far west of the county. Though originally a fishing village, it has for the last 150 years become both a popular holiday destination and an internationally renowned school of painting. The town and the surrounding area has a wide selection of holiday homes and cottages, self-catering flats, numerous hotels both large and small, plus an excellent selection of bed and breakfast accommodation.

There is a good choice of camping, touring and holiday parks.You are never more than ten to fifteen minutes from a beach in this part of the county.

http://www.stives.co.uk - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




Liverpool :



Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. As a city, Liverpool is diverse, energetic and exciting: there's something for everyone here. From football to festivals; music to maritime.The architecture is world-class, with more listed buildings than any city outside London.

Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians but are also known as "Scousers", in reference to the local meal known as 'scouse', a form of stew. The word scouse has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect. This year (2007), the city is celebrating its 800th anniversary, and in 2008 it will hold the European Capital of Culture title (together with Stavanger, Norway).

http://www.visitliverpool.com - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




Oxford :



Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty and scholars, and since the 9th century an established town, although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years.It is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

It is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of the university buildings. The River Thames runs through Oxford, where for a distance of some 10 miles it is known as the Isis.

http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




Brighton :



Brighton is located on the south coast of England, and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. Brighton is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in the United Kingdom.

With origins dating before the Domesday Book (1086), the ancient settlement of Brighthelmston emerged as an important health resort during the 18th century and a popular destination for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway in 1841. Brighton experienced rapid population growth reaching a peak of over 160,000 by 1961

Brighton is a popular tourist resort with numerous hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities, which additionally serve a substantial business conference industry. The modern city of Brighton and Hove is also an important educational centre with two universities and many English language schools.

http://www.brighton.co.uk - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




York :



York is a city in North Yorkshire, England, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss. The York urban area has a population of 137,505 whilst the entire unitary authority has a population of 184,900. York has been home to Vikings, Saxons, and Romans.

York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, stands at the city's centre.York's centre is enclosed by medieval walls. The entire circuit (including parts where walls never existed) is about 3 miles.Clifford's Tower, a quatrefoil keep built on top of a Norman motte, was the site of a massacre of Jews in 1190.In addition, the city has a reputation as being one of the most haunted cities in Britain.

York is home to the University of York, founded in 1963, and York St John University, which was founded in 1841 and gained university status in 2006.

http://www.visityork.org - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




Canterbury :



The name Canterbury derives from the Old English Cantwarebyrig, meaning "fortress of the men of Kent". The bury element is a form of borough, which has cognates in words and place names in virtually every Indo-European and Semitic language, as well as others.

The city is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All England, head of the Church of England and of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Thomas Beckett was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral; King Henry IV was buried along with the Edward the Black Prince. Furthermore, Geoffery Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales about the pilgrims and the people. This literary heritage was continued with Christopher Marlowe who was born here.

http://www.canterbury.co.uk - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




Nottingham :



The legend of Robin Hood first arose in the Middle Ages. Robin Hood is said to have lived in Sherwood Forest, which extended from the north of Nottingham to the north side of Doncaster, Yorkshire. Although Robin Hood is generally associated with Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, some authors (eg Phillips & Keatman, 1995) argue that he came from Yorkshire. Hood's main adversary was the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Today the office of Sheriff of Nottingham is a ceremonial position with no real jurisdiction. Whilst the accuracy of the legend is questionable, particularly the finer points, it has had a major impact on Nottingham, with Robin Hood imagery a popular choice for local businesses and many modern tourist attractions exploiting the legend. The Robin Hood Statue in Nottingham is within walking distance from the Old Market Square.

http://www.visitnottingham.com - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




Blackpool :



Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. Lying along the coast of the Irish Sea, it has a population of 142,900. Blackpool rose to prominence as a major centre of tourism during the 19th century, particularly for the inhabitants of northern mill towns.

Blackpool is heavily dependent on tourism. In what is often regarded as its heyday (1900-1950), Blackpool thrived as the factory workers of northern England took their annual holidays there en masse. Any photograph from that era shows crowds of tourists on the beach and promenade. Blackpool was also a preferred destination of visitors from Glasgow and remains so to this day. Reputedly, the town still has more hotel and B&B beds than the whole of Portugal.

http://www.visitblackpool.com - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER




Lincoln Cathedral :



Lincoln Cathedral is a historic cathedral in Lincoln in England. It was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years, but the central tower collapsed in the sixteenth century and was not rebuilt. It is highly regarded by architectural scholars; the eminent Victorian writer John Ruskin declared, "I have always held... that the cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have."

According to the cathedral website, over £1 million a year is spent on keeping the cathedral in shape. About 10 years ago it was discovered that the Flying Buttresses on the east end were no longer connected to the adjoining stonework and repairs were made to prevent collapse.

http://www.lincolncathedral.com - for driving directions see the ROUTE PLANNER