Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
Britain
/ Why UK?
Reasons to choose to come to the UK for study, work
or travel
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Study, work or travel in the UK. British
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Britain
/ Why UK?
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Reasons to choose to come to the UK for study, work
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Why study English abroad? |
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| Why come to the UK? | ||
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Course (find a course in the UK) |
Why should I study English?
English may be useful for your work. Many companies trade internationally.
English is one of the most common business languages. If you have a service
job (for example, in a shop, hospital or hotel), English may be useful for communicating
with foreign customers or patients.
English is the main language of the internet, so if you can use English to obtain
information on many subjects
Knowing English makes travel easier, and allows you to communicate with people
from many parts of the world
Why should I go abroad to study English?
If you live in an English-speaking country, your English should improve more
quickly. You can practice your English when you are not in classes, as you will
have many opportunities to hear, read and speak English in everyday life
When living abroad you can meet new people, experience new cultures, see new
sights, and become more independent
Travelling abroad gives you the chance to develop new interests and friendships
Travel
It is easy to travel to the UK. There are flights to London from most parts
of the world. You can travel around the UK by trains and bus, although the services
are not very efficient. It is usually not necessary for a student to have a
car. The country is quite small, so it is easy to make day-trips or to go on
holiday to other parts of Britain. The UK is close to the many different countries
of continental Europe. If you come to work or study in the UK, you may have
the opportunity to experience a variety of different cultures of France, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, Portugal and other countries.
For details, see: Travel.
Health
If you are on a course for more than 6 months, you should be able to obtain
free health treatment if you become ill. However, the public health service
is not especially efficient, and there can be delays seeing a doctor or obtaining
treatment (unless you are seriously ill). For details, see: Personal/Health.
Safety
The UK is a relatively safe country. The police do not usually carry guns, and
there are strict controls on the ownership of weapons. However, crime rates
have increased in recent years, partly due to an increase in the use of illegal
drugs. There are pickpockets in busy areas, so hold on to your belongings carefully.
There are not many insects, snakes or dangerous animals in the UK. There is
very little risk of earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, although
flooding sometimes occurs in low areas. As in many other parts of the world,
there is some risk of terrorist attack. For details, see: Personal/Safety.
Work
If you are given a student visa when you enter the UK, you are allowed to work
part-time. The cost of living in the UK (for example, accommodation and food)
is quite high, so many students want to find part-time or holiday jobs so that
they can afford to stay longer. Employment opportunities exist: unemployment
is quite low in many parts of the UK, and there are shortages in certain professions
such as nurses and teachers. Voluntary work has a long history in the UK and
is usually well-organised. The number of holidays people can take is quite high
compared to some other countries, and members of staff are usually encouraged
to take them. For details, see: Work.
Education
The British educational system has a good reputation. Accredited qualifications
obtained from British schools and universities are recognised in most parts
of the world. There are courses in a wide variety of subjects, including many
which are open to international students. Language teaching methods in the UK
are well developed, although the quality of teaching at language schools can
vary a lot. If a language school is recognised by the British Council, it is
regularly checked to check that general standards are high. For details, see:
Course.
Food
British food does not have a good reputation overseas. However, there is in
fact a very wide variety of food available (both traditional British food and
international cuisine), especially in the bigger cities. There are many fresh
ingredients which are delicious when cooked well. However, many busy people
don't pay much attention to preparing food well and prefer instant meals. For
details, see: Britain/Food.
Heritage
Britain has an interesting history and is good at preserving its traditions
and old buildings and gardens. There are many museums and art galleries.
Environment
There are many green areas, including beautiful parks, gardens and public
footpaths. There are many coastal areas, but only a few of these have sandy
beaches.
The bigger cities sometimes appear dirty and polluted, but usually this isn't
bad enough to cause any serious problems for visitors.
Weather
The British weather is quite moderate. In general the summers are not too hot,
and the winters are not too cold. Days are short in the middle of winter (it
gets dark before 4pm in December), and long in the middle of summer (it remains
light until after 10pm in June). There is usually more rain in the west of the
country, and more sunshine in the south. Britain is not an ideal location if
you want to sunbathe on a beach or swim in the sea, but the weather is pleasant
enough for studying or working, especially between the spring and autumn.
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