Life in the UK
Living in the UK is an exciting but difficult time for many International students.
We will try to help as much as we can.
Things we help students with are listed below.
Visas | Accommodation | Jobs | International Student Cards
Transport tickets/discounts | Buying Manchester United tickets| Social events and tours
Finding places of worship (e.g. Churches, Mosques etc.) | Finding a doctor/dentist
Opening a UK bank account | Joining your local library | Applying to a UK University
Apply Now!
International student cards
If you want a student card you need a school letter saying that you;
-
Study 15 hours a week
-
Study for more than 26 weeks
You must take the school letter to the STA shop. There are 2 in Manchester;
The easiest one to find is on Oxford Road, opposite the BBC
At the STA shop you must give the people
-
The School letter
-
Proof of ID like passport
-
£9
-
A passport photo
They will make a card for you. You can use this to get many discounts, including travel discounts on trains and buses. If you are older than 26 you may not get the same discounts.
Apply Now!
Transport tickets and discounts
To get a student discount on travel you must have an STA International Student card. See above. Different Bus companies have different rules, but most in manchester accept the International student card.
Social events and tours
Tours and Social Events; International Society
http://orgs.man.ac.uk/intsoc/
General guides to the City
http://www.itchymanchester.co.uk/
http://www.prideofmanchester.com/
http://www.timeout.com/manchester/
Full English Breakfast; http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=99703841
For football; see below
Rock Music;
Academy; http://www.manchesteracademy.net/
Apollo; http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/venue/190125
MEN Arena; http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/venue/254336
Night and Day café; http://www.nightnday.org/listings.php
Jazz;
Matt and Phreds; http://www.mattandphreds.com/
Apply Now!
Places of worship
Evangelical Churches;
www.lighthousecc.co.uk
http://www.kingschurch-manchester.org/index.php
Catholic Church; http://www.holyname.co.uk/
Mosque; http://www.manchestermosque.org/
Hindu Temple; GITA BHAVAN MANDIR Jnc.Wilbraham/Withington Road MANCHESTER
Sikh Temple; http://www.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=wQS&q=sikh+temple&near=Manchester&radius=0.0&latlng=53480732,-2234507,17707548085031942283&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority&cd=1
Buddhist Centre;http://www.manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk/
Finding a doctor/dentist
Opening a bank account
If you are a student at the school and you are on a course of 15 hours or more and for more than 26 weeks we can make you a letter which can be used in an application to Lloyds bank. An Account is not guaranteed, you must also have an interview at the bank.
Alternatively, if you have 2 bills (not telephone bills) and ID you can open any kind of account.
Finally, if you do not have 2 bills you need to pay for a bank account; £5 per month, 12 month contract. Or £50 in advance with the HSBC International account;
http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/current-accounts/passport
Joining your local library
To join the library just walk in and tell them you want to join, You do not need any special details.
Manchester libraries link page; http://www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries/distlibs/index.htm
Apply Now!
Applying to a UK University
If you want to apply to a UK University you need to show;
-
You have enough money
-
You have the right qualifications in your subject
-
You have the right level of English (usually IELTS 6.5)
A2Z School can help you with number 3.
The best way to begin is to contact the “International Students” section of the Univeristy you are interested in. They will give you a lot of information and you can visit them for more information.
When you have all of the above you apply to 6 Universities through UCAS
http://www.ucas.com/apply/index.html
They will organise interviews with you at the Universities you choose.
After the interview they will send you an acceptance offer if you were successful.
You can find more information about different Universities (e.g. Prospectuses) at your local Library.
Universities in the UK have a high academic standard, and they are generally more expensive than in other countries.
There are many Universities in Manchester and near Manchester. Here are a few;
Metropolitan University of Manchester
All Saints, Grosvenor Square, Manchester M15. Tel: 0161-247 2000
Website: www.mmu.ac.uk.
Northwest Centres of Excellence Network
See Web at: www.excellence.ac.uk
Open University in the North West, The
351 Altrincham Road, Sharston,
Manchester M22 4UN.
Tel: (General switchboard) 0161-861 9823
Tel: (Course Enquiries) 0161-862 9081.
24 hour Course Enquiry Line: 0870 3330161.
Web: www.open.ac.uk.
Royal Northern College of Music
Manchester, The
124 Oxford Road, Manchester.
Tel: 0161-273 6283.
Web: www.rncm.ac.uk.
UMIST - University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology
Sackville Street, Manchester M1.
Tel: Main Switchboard - 0161-236 3311.
Fax: 0161-200 4019
Students Union: 0161-200 3270. Web: www.umist.ac.uk
(UMIST is now part of the University of Manchester).
University of Bolton , The
(formerly Bolton Institute)
Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB. Tel: 01204-900600
Web: www.bolton.ac.uk
University of Manchester
Oxford Road, Manchester M13.
Tel: 0161-275 2000
Website: www.man.ac.uk/
University of Salford
The Crescent, Salford M5.
Tel: 0161-295 5000
Website: www.salford.ac.uk
Apply Now!
Manchester United tickets
These can be bought;
