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As a student in the UK, you will find a range of services and facilities at your disposal. In addition to academic facilities such as libraries and laboratories, most universities and many colleges provide recreational facilities for their students, such as inexpensive restaurant or cafes, pubs, lounges, athletic facilities, and shops where you can buy basic necessities.
Student life can be as active or as quite as you like. There is a huge range of activities to choose from, beginning almost the moment you arrive. Many colleges and universities provide an orientation programme for new international students in the week before term begins. This is your chance to get to know the campus, find out about essential services and meet other international students.
Then, in the first week of term, many institutions stage a ‘Freshers’ fair’: a program of social events for new students. (‘Freshers’ are students in their first year of un undergraduate or a college programme.) During the fair, you will have further opportunities to meet other students at receptions and dances and you will have a chance to find out about various clubs and societies you can join. Student clubs and societies in the UK reflect a wide range of interests, and may centre around anything from a particular sport, political party or language to a specific computer game, television programme or musical group. Many colleges and universities have an international students’ society which provides activities and support for students from outside the UK.
The national union of students (NUS) is a campaigning organization that represents the interests of all students in the UK. All universities and most of the larger colleges have a students’ union (basically a local branch of a NUS). You can pick up your union card from your local students’ union, and as a member of NUS you are entitled to all the privileges and discounts members are afforded; things like cheaper cinema tickets, discounts in shops, pubs and restaurants. Companies that specialized in dealing with students and offer discounts to NUS members as listed.
Students’ union services and activities vary from one institution to another. They may include any or all of the following:
- Campaigning and representing students’ rights
- Arranging entertainment programmes and social activities for students
- Running restaurants, bars and shops on campus
- Providing information on student travels, sports and leisure facilities
- Offering discounts on variety of products
- Offering advice on welfare issues such as accommodation and immigration requirements
- Providing information and advice on part-time work as well as listing jobs available in the students’ union and local area.
Many students’ unions have an elected international officer. International students are eligible to stand for elected students’ union posts while studying the in UK.
The National Union of Students (NUS)
2nd floor
Centro 3
Mandela Street
London NW1 ODU
Text phone 020 7380 6649
Telephone 0871 221 8221
Fax 0871 221 8222
E-mail nusuk@nus.org.uk
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