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Accessing Dental Care in the UK

Dental care is considered ‘primary healthcare’. This means anyone in England can register with a dentist as an NHS patient, and receive medically necessary treatment on that basis. Unlike some healthcare in the UK, dental treatment under the NHS is not free (with some exceptions), but the treatment is heavily subsidised and the cost of…

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day!)

Known across the UK as ‘Pancake Day’, and in France and North America as Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday is an important celebration in the Christian calendar. It marks the day before lent begins. Lent is a 40 day period ending just before the Easter weekend. It is traditionally a time of sacrifice during which Christians…

Immigration Health Surcharge Increase

We are sad to announce that the UK Government has increased the immigration health surcharge for applications made on or after 6th February 2024. The increase will see rates almost double for applications for Student route and Graduate route applications, as well as dependants on those routes. The new levels are as follows: Applications under…

Our Culture Shock Toolkit

Culture shock describes the impact of moving from a familiar culture to one that is unfamiliar. All sorts of factors contribute to culture shock, such as a change in climate, different food, rules of behaviour that seem strange and hard to understand, and being away from your familiar support network. Studying in another country can…

Irish flag with green hat on it and plastic four leaf clover.

St Patrick’s Day – Friday 17 March

Named after the main patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide, due to the Irish people’s history of migration and the number of people internationally who have Irish heritage. Here is our lowdown on who St Patrick was, what he did, and how this special day is celebrated. Who was St Patrick?…

Christmas in the UK

Your first Christmas in the UK If this will be your first Christmas in the UK you’ll find useful information about what to expect on this page. You may have already noticed festive decorations and lights in the main shopping areas, as well as Christmas menus in local cafés and restaurants. It’s generally a time…

An international student’s guide to going home: reverse culture shock

You’ve completed your course, exams and assessments are over – you’re finished. Going home may have been far from your mind, but now the date of your departure from the university and the UK is fast-approaching. pre-departure admin Before you leave there are many ‘administrative tasks’ you’ll need to do. You may wish to close bank accounts…

Your first Christmas in the UK

If this will be your first Christmas in the UK you’ll find useful information about what to expect on this page. You may have already noticed festive decorations and lights in the main shopping areas, as well as Christmas menus in local cafés and restaurants. It’s generally a time of year where everyone gets into…

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