Life in the UK

Once in the UK you may experience different practices and experiences, particularly with respect to day to day life. The International Student Advisors' Office is here to help you make the transition to life in a new country. The ISAO can help you with practical advice such as setting up a UK bank account or driving in the UK for instance. Our Pre-Arrival Guide for International Students 2012-13 also provides much of the information that you will need.

Please select one of the links on the left to access relevant information, guidance and support offered by the ISAO.

Useful websites

• Culture Shock
• Don't be afraid to ask for help (leaflet)
• UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) contains a lot of useful information regarding life in the UK and a comprehensive list of information sheets.
• RAS (Relocation Advisory Service) is part of the Scottish Government and has a very good website offering advice about relocating to Scotland.
• DirectGov (UK Government) offers information on public services.
• Education UK (British Council) has a lot of information about living and studying in the UK. It also contains information about working while studying and about the UK education system.
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is the website to check if you plan to drive in the UK with your foreign driving licence.
• Host UK is a voluntary organisation that enables international students to stay with a UK host family for a weekend. The stay is free of charge; you only need to pay for your transport to the host's home and back.

Pre-Arrival Guide for International Students 2012-13 (2.28MB, PDF)

Banner images courtesy of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital