Moving to the UK to study can be a daunting prospect. It’s understandable to feel nervous about having to settle into a new culture on top of having to start your new course. But here at the University of Kent, we can assure you that studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. With students and academics from all over the world, including over 100 Indian students already studying at Kent, we have lots of tips to help you feel confident about your move.

Visa

One of the most important things to do is to organise your Tier 4 visa. It can be a confusing process, so here at Kent, we’ve created a video guide for all prospective students showing the steps you need to go through. Here you can find out about the documents you’ll need to complete your application as well as information about working in the UK. You can find the video on the student immigration section of our website: www.kent.ac.uk/studentimmigration/

Accommodation

Next is to think about your accommodation while you’re studying in the UK. There’s often lots of variety when it comes to accommodation, both in terms of location, catering and whether you want to be in a flat or student halls. Plus, for most universities there is a first come, first served system so you want to think about accommodation early to make sure you end up living where you want. For example, here at Kent, we have a huge range of accommodation options both at our Canterbury campus which is set in Kent parkland, or near our trendy Medway campus by the Historic Dockyard Chatham, so there’s lots to choose from.  

Bank Account

It’s also worth preparing everything you will need to open a UK bank account. You’ll need your passport, proof of address, proof of income and your student card.

Culture

And finally, try to prepare yourself for university culture. Have a look at your university’s social media sites to find out about the student life and what events happen throughout the year. It would also be worth looking through the university’s clubs and societies to get an idea of what they offer. Here at Kent, we have a wide choice of sporting, entertainment and cultural societies, and students from India have formed their own Indian society which celebrates Indian culture in an all-embracing fashion.

There’s so much support for international students coming to study in the UK. At the University of Kent, we have more than 150 nationalities on campus so diversity is something which is really celebrated. And a university experience in the UK will be completely unique and the skills and experiences you gain will equip you for every aspect of your life and career. 

If you want to find out more about the University of Kent, please contact our International Officer for India, Kayleigh Buckingham-Pegg, at international@kent.ac.uk, or meet her on her next trip to India between 20^th November and 7^th December.

 Please note the featured image is of Canterbury Catherdral where University of  Kent graduations take place.