International Student FAQs

How much will I be expected to pay for my living expenses?, What is living in London really like?, What is food shopping like?, Should I take out insurance?, Will I be able to practice my faith?, What is the weather like in the UK?

How much will I be expected to pay for my living expenses?
In addition to your course fees, you will also need to have enough money to cover your living expenses such as accommodation, food, bills, travel, etc. The average maintenance costs for a single student are between £6500-£9000 each year.
This breaks down to the following approximate costs:

Per month
£400 Accommodation (single room shared facilities including gas/electric/water bills)
£120 - £200 Food (single person)
£43 - £100 Travel (depending on where you live)

On top of this you will have clothes, stationery, books & entertainment costs to consider.
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What is living in London really like?
London is a relatively fast and exciting metropolitan city. There are many social activities going on all the time. The centre of London is well known for its nightlife that includes theatres, nightclubs, street entertainment, cinemas, restaurants, late night shops, etc. During the day there are places to visit such as museums, art galleries, markets and the main tourist attractions (Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, The Tower of London, Covent Garden, etc.)

It is a multi-cultural city with people visiting and staying in London who originally come from many other countries. The centre of London is easy to get to as all major buses and trains pass through it. London can be expensive but as you move more to Greater London (away from the centre), you will find things become cheaper.
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What is food shopping like?
London has many shops that specialise in foods from around the world. Prices differ considerably so shop around and look out for special offers. As a rule, supermarkets will be cheaper than the corner shop and street markets will be cheaper than the supermarkets. You can expect to spend at least £35 a week on groceries.

Each of the College centres has their own canteen where meals and snacks are available throughout the day.
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Should I take out insurance?
Travelling abroad to study can be costly. Apart from the course fees you may have to pay for your accommodation, travel, bills, laundry, books, course materials, healthcare/treatment etc. You will be travelling with important documents such as your passport, tickets, and cash and travellers cheques. In the event that you should lose any of them or have them stolen or fall ill you may decide that it is useful to take out some insurance cover to help reimburse you.

There are insurance companies who offer policies at a cheaper rate to students. You may want to take insurance out before you leave your country or once you arrive in the UK.

Just a note of caution, do shop around and ask questions about the cover offered for the best deal before parting with any money and signing any forms.
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Will I be able to practice my faith?
To some students their spiritual well being is as important as their physical and emotional well being. Newham College is fortunate to be based in a multi-cultural area. Places of worship of various denominations are readily available in Newham and throughout London. If you want to uphold your religious festivals/practices and develop your faith, you can expect to be able to do this while studying at the College.

They can offer:

a place to worship
spiritual development
a community of people who share the same beliefs and values as yourselves
a source of support (socially, emotionally, spiritually, etc)
a place to obtain information and so on

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What is the weather like in the UK?
The British weather can seem very harsh to those students who come from warmer climates. It is generally unpredictable, but the period between December and February is extremely cold.

A good way of keeping warm is by "layering" your clothes. That is, wearing t-shirts or shirts under woollen jumpers, with a warm jacket or coat over the top, depending on how cold it is. Waterproof clothing, strong shoes/boots and an umbrella are useful or perhaps essential in the rain.

If you arrive in August or September you should find that the climate is still reasonably mild so you can decide what clothing to buy when you get here.
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