5 Things You'll Need When Moving Abroad (UK)
Studying Abroad Guide
In his book Paper Towns, John Green says that “it is so hard to leave — until you leave. And then, it is the easiest Goddamn thing in the world.” And back in 2014, I don’t think I fully grasped the meaning of that sentence. But it is true. The hardest part is to leave. To prepare, pack and accept that life will be different once you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone.
Before moving to the UK I was terrified. Even once I got there, I wasn’t completely sure whether this was the dumbest thing I’d ever done or the best. Luckily, I was surrounded by a bunch of people my age worrying about the same thing. And, that’s the wonderful thing about being a fresher; everyone’s in the same boat. Nevertheless, there are little things worth knowing before moving to uni (especially for international students) to make the move easier.
1. Finding accommodation in 1st year
1st-year students are normally always granted a room on campus (at a reasonable price) to avoid the stress of figuring the whole city out before even stepping foot in it. Staying in the University’s student accommodation is a great way to meet people from different courses and backgrounds. However, there are other options available. You can look for private student halls (often more expensive) which are usually nicer and more international. Meanwhile, campus accommodation provides the bare minimum, private halls offer events, 24H/7 security, common areas with TVs and video games, study rooms and sometimes even a gym. It’s a really good option if you’re looking for something more sophisticated but still want the overall ‘student halls experience’ and get to meet people. Since I applied to UoB last minute, the campus was fully booked and I looked at private halls instead. I had the best time there and couldn’t be happier for as first time away from home.
If you don’t like the hotel vibe from student halls and look for something homier (and often cheaper!), you might want to join some Facebook groups to find a student house. This can be a little trickier since halls are literally designed for students and houses are not. To find the right housemates, you have to be honest with yourself and know what you’re looking for. Do you mind messy people or is it fine as long as they’re good fun? Ask about people’s habits and lifestyles because I can assure you, there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a house with people you dislike.
When looking for accommodation there are a few key criteria; make sure it’s a safe and student-friendly area, at walking distance from a grocery store and close to public transportation. Living at a walkable distance from campus is a good way to save money throughout the year. Finally, if you can and want to, you can simply move into a place of your own but then again research the area thoroughly.
Obviously, with the pandemic, things are a little different and student halls are facing a lot of social restrictions but hopefully, things will be better next fall.
2. Pack wisely
When packing, you will most likely face a lot of dilemmas. But honestly, there are things you’ll need and things you won’t. In the first year, we all packed way too much, without considering that we would buy stuff over the year. Once it was time to go home, the number of things I accumulated was ridiculous.
Clothing and toiletries
Uni terms fly by and you won’t need your entire wardrobe simply because you won’t have time to go through it all. Select clothes that are versatile and easy to wear. Keep in mind the social atmosphere and lifestyle of the uni/city you’re moving to while packing. Make sure to bring clothes you can see yourself wearing every day and a couple of items for special occasions —heels/elegant shoes, a nice purse, that one special shirt you love… You name it. The same goes for your beauty products/makeup. You won’t need 5 eyeshadow palettes and 18 different perfume bottles. Focus on what’s essential to your everyday life such as warm and comfy clothes or that one hair product you just can’t find anywhere else.
Bring a pair of slippers. Just trust me on this one.
Bedroom
I decided to buy my pillows, duvet and bed linen in the UK directly to save some space but you can also use those space-saver vacuum bags to seal the deal. The UK is known to be cold and the insulation to be bad. The one thing I didn’t regret bringing was a hot water bottle.
In terms of electronics, the biggest life-hack is to get a multi-sockets extension cable and only two UK adaptors: one for the extension cable and one that you can carry around (e.g for your laptop/phone). I also got an Ikea clamp light which turned out to be really convenient.
My biggest mistake was to bring loads of books “to feel at home.” They were heavy and I didn’t even have time to read them since I was busy with my uni reading. If you enjoy reading and can, invest in a Kindle (I like to use the app on my iPad) to keep your favourite books around and maximise your storage space.
Over-door hooks are pretty amazing since uni accommodation seriously lack storage. Go for the Command Strip Hooks since the loose ones might be too thick and might block you from closing your bedroom door. They’re easy to remove and won’t leave a trace (careful with walls tho).
Generally speaking, you won’t need to bring your whole life to feel at home. A few pictures from home and a couple of things from home should do the job and you’ll be happy once you move out not to have a suitcase full of random objects.
Health
Medicine is super cheap in the UK and you can find pretty much anything you need at your local supermarket. Nonetheless, it is good to bring a small first aid kit with you, just in case. Also, bring flu medication. You’re probably reading this in COVID times, so clubs are closed, but freshers’ flu is a real thing in normal times. Once one of your flatmates sneezes, it’s over for everyone.
Once you get there, GO REGISTER WITH A GP. As a student, it is really easy to neglect your health because you might be afraid of the cost but you shouldn’t. The National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly funded healthcare system of the United Kingdom and you don’t need to be a UK citizen to benefit from it. All you need is proof of address (any bill, contract, mail addressed to your accommodation), your passport/ID and to fill in a couple of forms. Your university probably has its own GP but nothing prevents you from going elsewhere. You might never need to book a doctor appointment while you’re abroad but it’s always good to be registered with a GP, just in case. For instance, during the pandemic, having access to a GP is essential as it makes you eligible for the COVID vaccination programme.
Kitchen supply
Since we’re on the topic of housemates, there are so many Facebook groups for freshers and you might find out who you’ll be living with before even meeting them. If so, try to get organised and see if you can share things. I did that with my friends and it was:
It's cheaper
It reduced clutter once I had to pack.
Otherwise, head to Poundland or a charity shop and get cheap kitchen stencils because unless you plan on staying in the UK after your degree, you will get rid of those things after uni.
Miscellaneous
Card games, door stops, air fresheners, earplugs, hard drive… Anything that you deem essential.
Lastly, you might need a copy of important documents (Qualifications, passport, language certificate…) so bring it.
3. Fresher’s week
Hopefully, by the time you get to University, Fresher’s week will be back as we know it. Fresher’s week usually takes place the week before the beginning of classes and is constituted of many social events (and parties) for students to meet their peers in a relaxed environment. During this week, the whole city becomes a first-year students playground, hosting many events for you to explore your new surroundings. Make sure to grab a fresher’s week booklet and join Facebook groups to check what is going on. It might sound outdated but Facebook groups are a major source of information, especially at the beginning of your uni experience.
Clubbing is a big part of fresher’s week (hence, the fresher’s flu) and you might hear about fresher’s pass. These bracelets can be quite expensive and are truly useful if you’re a party animal as they guarantee you access to the biggest fresher events/clubs. However, unless you plan to party every night for a week, these are not worth your money. Instead, download Eventbrite and check entrance tickets for specific clubs/events you wish to attend. It will save you so much money!
If clubbing isn’t really your thing, don’t worry. You’ll find your people. Again, I would suggest you head to Facebook groups and simply introduce yourself in a post. Meet students for coffee or some sightseeing. Besides the whole partying situation, fresher’s week is also the perfect time to attend societies meetings and perhaps, join them. Clubs for sports, societies for literally anything else you could be passionate about, are a great way to meet people with similar interests and make friends. Getting involved in extra-curricular activities can be the perfect opportunity to develop new skills and explore a new hobby.
4. The UK grading system at the University
The UK grading system for higher education can be a little confusing and won’t be discussed in class when you first start your course. You can learn more about the marking process and the assessment requirements in your module handbooks once you’ve enrolled with a course but, there are some things that I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for my UK fellows. For most courses, the first year is considered a formative year and all you need is a Pass (it can vary from one university to another but it’s usually 40%). It allows students to adjust to their new lifestyle, work/studying method and socialise. However, once you get into your second year, your workload will intensify and your grades will seriously start to matter. In the second year, a certain percentage (for me it was 25%) of your GPA will count towards your degree’s final grade.
Here's the consensus on the UK grading system:
Be aware that for any ‘subjective’ subjects such as Arts and Humanities, a grade of 65% is considered to be really good. I read somewhere that when students get above 80% their work is eligible to be published and there’s no way that a first-year —or even second year— get to be published. But don’t quote me on that though. A First is harder to obtain yet not impossible and as long as you do your work properly, you should be fine. Most students graduate with a 2:1 and it’s perfectly fine.
5. Don’t worry, you’ll figure things out
Deciding to move to a whole new country and starting higher education is scary. But it’s also very exciting and even if you might need a couple of weeks to settle down and get a hold of everything, you shouldn’t worry too much. Universities provide a lot of advice and don’t be afraid to ask for help. The only dumb questions are the ones we don’t ask. Once at uni, you will be assigned to a personal tutor whose job is to help you figure things out. And their office (or email box nowadays…) is always open.
When moving to university you might face a bit of a culture shock (I sure did) but the key is to always trust your guts and be open-minded. No matter where you go, you will find your people as long as you let them in and are willing to try new things.
If you're still wondering about what you should bring to University, find a printable packing list here:
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