15+ UK study abroad experiences for Vietnamese students

According to the experience of studying in the UK, international students are still surprised when choosing useful information to prepare for the UK. Let's take a look at the 5 experiences below to pocket for the best standards before going to study abroad in a foreign country!

1.1. Learn about the Embassy of Vietnam in the UK

For Vietnamese people who go abroad to live or work, the Embassy will help you:

• Provide communication information to people in Vietnam.

• Processing necessary paperwork and advising on necessary procedures for Vietnamese citizens abroad.

• Ensure security, support community education and provide job opportunities for citizens.

Students starting their study abroad journey need to know the contact information and address of their country's embassy in the UK to use when necessary, especially in case of emergency, which is one of the valuable experiences of studying in the UK of previous students.

1.2. Learn more about the climate - culture - people of England

According to the experience of studying in the UK, when living and studying in the UK, you need to have a brief understanding of the climate and culture. Because according to the experience of studying in the UK, studying carefully will help you easily adapt and have better preparation to avoid unnecessary risks.

• Weather:

In the UK, there will be 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. However, the weather will change a lot in a day. Therefore, in addition to looking at the forecast in advance, it is necessary to prepare according to the backup plans. You can learn aboutWeather in the United Kingdom

Let's go!

• Culture - people:

  • It is recommended to communicate politely, control your voice, do not speak too loudly or dance with your feet.

  • Always be on time or you will be considered impolite, because the British value time very much.

  • Adhere to queuing culture, never interrupt or push

  • Always say sorry even if it doesn't come from you.

  • Walking and popular public transport in the UK

  The West will have different points compared to Asian culture if you do not have the baggage beforehand, which will bring many obstacles in the process of learning, traveling, and communicating,... Some of the dos and don'ts you need to keep in mind when studying abroad in the UK include:

1.3. Firmly grasp the conditions for studying in the UK

To ensure that everything is fully prepared, students, students and parents need to firmly grasp the conditions to study in the UK so as not to spend too much time processing procedures and spending a lot of money on making documents. According to the experience of studying in the UK, there are 5 main factors that international students need to ensure as follows:

• Age requirements:

  Students must be 1 year old or older.

• Health conditions:

  You must ensure a medical examination and an in-depth pulmonary tuberculosis health check when making health records.

• Financial conditions:

  Financial proof is one of the conditions that need to be clearly met before determining to study abroad at least 30,000 USD (more than 600 million VND) to meet the costs of studying and living in the UK.

• Conditions for applying for a visa:

  To be granted a visa, you must also have the conditions to prove to the Consulate about information, family status, and offer letter,... to create national friendliness.

• School requirements:

  You need to meet the highest qualifications, English certificates,... sent to a university in the UK to be placed in a class in accordance with their abilities.

1.4. Experience in studying in the UK in preparing applications

Preparing all the necessary documents and documents is a process that any international student must do. So, what do international students need to prepare when applying to study in the UK? Here are 3 main notes when conducting the necessary contents to prepare the dossier as follows:

1 - Know the application deadline

Please carefully review, mark and remember the important timelines for applying to the participating school. Make sure that the application is sent when there is sufficient information because different programs and majors have different deadlines for submitting admission documents.

2 - Master the methods of applying to study in the UK

Programs and levels of study abroad have different methods of registering to study abroad. However, you need to update and firmly grasp the registration method to quickly complete the application.

• Pre-University:

  You apply online through the Kaplan Pathway.

• Undergraduate study:

  You need to apply online at the UK's university application website, UCAS.

3 - Prepare the necessary types of documents

The necessary documents and documents that need to be prepared before studying in the UK for 1 to 3 months according to the experience of studying in the UK include:

Related article:What do I need to apply to study in the UK? Documents to prepare

1.5. Luggage preparation experience

You need to prepare all the necessary baggage based on compliance before entering the UK (food, baggage scale,...). Designer supplies for preparing suitcases include:

• Documents and identification documents.

• Necessary school supplies (laptop).

• Some cash and cards.

• Clothes (mostly warm clothes).

• Personal items, cosmetics.

• Food and medicine.

• Some electronics (phones, tablets).

After coming to the UK, you also need to pay attention and prepare a few things before entering the university to have the best preparation for living as well as studying and services in this country:

2.1. Experience in preparing accommodation

If you have family members before coming to the UK, you can settle down thanks to a sponsorship from a relative. In case you don't have one, be prepared to rent accommodation to a 3rd party to facilitate your studies.

However, some schools allow students to apply for dormitories even if you haven't received an offer to study abroad or only open when you're actually selected as a student of the school. So, if you want to live in a dormitory, you need to check the admission letter or contact the school immediately!

1 - Carefully study the forms of accommodation

Dormitory and rent are 2 popular forms that many international students trust. However, you need to consider before deciding on your accommodation to be more convenient for studying in the UK. Take a look at the table below to understand better!

You can refer to the information aboutAccommodation when studying in the UKto better understand the appropriate forms of accommodation when studying in the UK!

2 - It is recommended to live together with Vietnamese people in the beginning

When you come to the UK to study abroad, you can choose to live in a dormitory, rent a house, or a room outside the school,... However, newcomers should stay with Vietnamese people in the early stages. Because according to the experience of studying in the UK, living with friends of the same direction will more or less easily find sympathy and easier to communicate in the initial period when they are not familiar with the environment and the ability to communicate is still limited.

There are also many student associations studying or working in the UK, always regularly helping and supporting each other. Therefore, living with Vietnamese people will be an opportunity to share difficulties in studying, living, and confiding in each other to reduce loneliness or self-pity in a foreign land.

3 – Prepare well financially

You and your family need to determine the best financial enough to pay for tuition fees as well as living standards in the UK. Refer to the fees paid for living and housing below to have an overview of the most basic costs:

For more information, students can refer to how much money is needed to study in the UK to have the best preparation!

2.2. Experience of studying in the UK on choosing a school and major to study abroad

Choosing the right school and field of study from the beginning will limit the visa application process later according to the experience of studying in the UK. You need to pay a fine of around £50 for changing schools. Therefore, the criteria below help you choose the right learning from the beginning to help minimize the cost and time of changing the environment significantly.

• Choose your favorite major, which is suitable for your abilities and offers good career opportunities after graduation.

• How to choose a school for the training route? Carefully study the cost of the study and determine the location of the school located in the area to make appropriate calculations about the cost of living conditions.

A good news for international students in the UK when graduating from the summer of 2021 are allowed to live in the UK for up to 3 years to find a job or develop their career. In which, you are allowed to stay for 2 years for the Undergraduate level and 3 years for the Master's level and there is no limit to the profession or the number. Therefore, the choice of career and environment greatly affects your future opportunities when studying abroad in the UK.

2.3. Pre-reading specialized materials

The university will send a list of documents to students in advance to easily visualize the amount of knowledge and imitate specialized English, thereby making it easier to pursue a program based on the British study abroad experience.

2.4. Biometric Card Registration (BRP)

First, you need to obtain a BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) card, which is a residence card that proves and confirms your personal information, biometrics, and right to stay in the UK for the first 10 days.

When granted a BRF card, international students are entitled to study, work, and use social services and benefits in the UK according to the regulations issued under the visa. You can get this card at the post office or school (where you have registered your visa application form).

Note: please remember to bring your visa and decision letter sent by the British Embassy to receive the card!

2.5. Register a bank account

In the UK, card payment methods are commonly used in paying for housing, shopping for food, supplies, clothes, and travel expenses,... Therefore, opening an account and owning a card is necessary when preparing to study abroad.

It will take you about 3 weeks to open a bank account in the UK. To save time waiting to open an account, you should open a credit account or a supplementary card of your parents (credit or debit card) of a bank in the country.

According to the experience of studying in the UK, if you intend to open an account in the UK, you need to register at banks far from the school and make an appointment in advance, which will help you get a card faster. Choosing banks far from the school avoids the situation that the banks will be crowded with students, so the waiting time is long on the first day of enrollment. To register, you need to prepare the following documents:

• Valid passport or visa.

• Student confirmation letter issued by the school.

2.6. Registration of Railcard 16 - 25

The Railcard 16 - 25 offers up to 30% off public transport fares: trains or buses when travelling across the UK.

• Under 25 years old: You will have to apply online for £30 per year.

• Over 25 years old: You need to have an application form for full-time student certification from the university to be able to purchase a card.

Carefully researching and preparing before studying abroad will help you be less surprised and quickly integrate into life in the UK. Understanding this, IDP Education shares with you 4 useful information about the experience of studying in the UK as follows:

3.1. Studying abroad in the UK helps to study effectively

When starting with a new learning environment, especially in a foreign country, according to the experience of studying in the UK, international students should have careful preparations in advance such as:

• Read Syllabus carefully:

Overview/Outline of each subject to get an overview of the curriculum.

• Familiarity with learning systems:

International students should prepare papers before going to class to submit papers and tests, which is very necessary. Because in the first time you listen to the lecture, you may encounter some surprises even though you have a good understanding of the English language.

• Go to the library to search for materials:

School libraries in the UK are available 24 hours a day to support students at all times of the week. You can go to the library to search for relevant materials or spend at least 40 hours a week studying and studying in the UK to be highly effective.

Frankly share and ask for help: For lectures that are still unclear, frankly share and ask for help from friends and lecturers. This helps you increase your ability to communicate and get used to the environment sooner.

3.2. Experience in applying for a scholarship to study in the UK

To get a scholarship when studying abroad is the dream of most students. Most people will think that having a scholarship is very difficult to achieve, IDP shares with you the following tips for applying for a scholarship to study in the UK:

• You must set goals and plan to pursue them.

• Understand what you need, what you want, your strengths and weaknesses, and why you choose an international environment to write a persuasive essay for scholarship applicants.

• It is necessary to have an English certificate to meet the needs of studying as well as living here.

• The choice of major determines up to 50% of the success when hunting for scholarships, it is easier for you to determine the right major with your abilities, strengths and goals.

You can learn from the experience of hunting for scholarships to study in the UK from IDP alumni to help bring a higher chance of successful scholarship hunting for yourself!

3.3. Part-time experience when studying abroad in the UK

Working part-time in the UK not only makes your life in a new environment more lively, but it is also an opportunity for you to develop yourself and increase your income. According to the experience of studying in the UK, when studying abroad in the UK, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours in 1 week and work full-time during holidays.

Some part-time jobs in the UK you can refer to: Restaurant waitress, interpreter, housekeeper, tutor, newspaper delivery, waitress,...

Drawing from the experience of studying in the UK of previous international students, you can search for part-time jobs from job centers, study abroad student groups where you live or on reputable and popular websites in the UK such as:

• Indeed:

  https://uk.indeed.com/

• Find a job:

  https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job

• Job vacancies:

  https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs

  hoặc

  https://www.jobs.ac.uk/

3.4. Experience living in the UK

When starting to come to the UK, many international students will definitely have many surprises when they come into contact with new cultures, new environments, and new people. The life experiences in the UK study abroad experiences below will be very useful to you:

1 – Bring cash with you for the first week

Another important note in the first week is that you should bring a cash sum of £1,000 – £2,000 to cover your living expenses in the beginning. Because you will not be familiar with the transportation system, transaction and use of services in the UK.

Carrying a need is necessary, but you don't have to bring too much cash. According to the experience of studying in the UK, you should keep your money carefully by dividing it into many places to prevent risks!

2 - Take the initiative to start a conversation

According to the experience of studying in the UK, proactively communicating in the first days of studying abroad will help you easily integrate quickly into a new environment and meet more friends. Never wait for someone to talk to you if you're not the one to open your mouth. In addition, communicating with international friends can help you hone your English skills.

3 - Always transfer tuition fees

Make sure your tuition fee is always paid on time! The tuition fee paid for each term when studying in the UK is not a small amount and will be transferred to ensure convenience instead of paying in cash.

At IDP, there is a service to help you transfer money through reputable Cohort and Flywire partners with attractive exchange rates, no transfer fees. This supports parents to easily transfer money to pay tuition fees for their children more conveniently and with peace of mind.

Carefully researching and preparing before studying abroad will help you be less surprised and quickly integrate into life in the UK. Understanding this, IDP Education shares with you 4 useful information about the experience of studying in the UK as follows:

3.1. Studying abroad in the UK helps to study effectively

When starting with a new learning environment, especially in a foreign country, according to the experience of studying in the UK, international students should have careful preparations in advance such as:

• Read Syllabus carefully:

Overview/Outline of each subject to get an overview of the curriculum.

• Familiarity with learning systems:

International students should prepare papers before going to class to submit papers and tests, which is very necessary. Because in the first time you listen to the lecture, you may encounter some surprises even though you have a good understanding of the English language.

• Go to the library to search for materials:

School libraries in the UK are available 24 hours a day to support students at all times of the week. You can go to the library to search for relevant materials or spend at least 40 hours a week studying and studying in the UK to be highly effective.

Frankly share and ask for help: For lectures that are still unclear, frankly share and ask for help from friends and lecturers. This helps you increase your ability to communicate and get used to the environment sooner.

3.2. Experience in applying for a scholarship to study in the UK

To get a scholarship when studying abroad is the dream of most students. Most people will think that having a scholarship is very difficult to achieve, IDP shares with you the following tips for applying for a scholarship to study in the UK:

• You must set goals and plan to pursue them.

• Understand what you need, what you want, your strengths and weaknesses, and why you choose an international environment to write a persuasive essay for scholarship applicants.

• It is necessary to have an English certificate to meet the needs of studying as well as living here.

• The choice of major determines up to 50% of the success when hunting for scholarships, it is easier for you to determine the right major with your abilities, strengths and goals.

You can learn from the experience of hunting for scholarships to study in the UK from IDP alumni to help bring a higher chance of successful scholarship hunting for yourself!

3.3. Part-time experience when studying abroad in the UK

Working part-time in the UK not only makes your life in a new environment more lively, but it is also an opportunity for you to develop yourself and increase your income. According to the experience of studying in the UK, when studying abroad in the UK, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours in 1 week and work full-time during holidays.

Some part-time jobs in the UK you can refer to: Restaurant waitress, interpreter, housekeeper, tutor, newspaper delivery, waitress,...

Drawing from the experience of studying in the UK of previous international students, you can search for part-time jobs from job centers, study abroad student groups where you live or on reputable and popular websites in the UK such as:

• Indeed:

  https://uk.indeed.com/

• Find a job:

  https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job

• Job vacancies:

  https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs

  hoặc

  https://www.jobs.ac.uk/

3.4. Experience living in the UK

When starting to come to the UK, many international students will definitely have many surprises when they come into contact with new cultures, new environments, and new people. The life experiences in the UK study abroad experiences below will be very useful to you:

1 – Bring cash with you for the first week

Another important note in the first week is that you should bring a cash sum of £1,000 – £2,000 to cover your living expenses in the beginning. Because you will not be familiar with the transportation system, transaction and use of services in the UK.

Carrying a need is necessary, but you don't have to bring too much cash. According to the experience of studying in the UK, you should keep your money carefully by dividing it into many places to prevent risks!

2 - Take the initiative to start a conversation

According to the experience of studying in the UK, proactively communicating in the first days of studying abroad will help you easily integrate quickly into a new environment and meet more friends. Never wait for someone to talk to you if you're not the one to open your mouth. In addition, communicating with international friends can help you hone your English skills.

3 - Always transfer tuition fees

Make sure your tuition fee is always paid on time! The tuition fee paid for each term when studying in the UK is not a small amount and will be transferred to ensure convenience instead of paying in cash.

At IDP, there is a service to help you transfer money through reputable Cohort and Flywire partners with attractive exchange rates, no transfer fees. This supports parents to easily transfer money to pay tuition fees for their children more conveniently and with peace of mind.