Practical advice

The following advice comes from the experience of Laura and Jessica, "health engineering" students in Edinburgh in 2009-2010...

REGISTRATION :

On the UCAS website. Be very careful, as everything is in English. DO take only one subject (Immuno-Toxico or Microbio for example) otherwise your timetable will be complicated and sometimes some subjects will overlap! What's more, taking two subjects costs more and you'll have other things to do, like enjoying your student life!

REGISTRATION FEES :

-Students who go to Scotland, and who are European nationals, pay no fees. This is done by an organization called SAAS. On arrival, students must register with SAAS (teachers will be on hand to help) and a few weeks later they will receive a letter from SAAS which they must present to the college. Nothing more and nothing less to do!
-non-European students, if they want to study in the UK, will have to pay registration fees (in the region of 10,000 euros I believe, which is very, very expensive in any case) and no organization covers these costs.

MUTUELLE :

-apply for a European card

BANK :

There are several possibilities:
-you can ask your bank if they have contracts for when you go abroad. Laura pays 11 euros a month for her bank card with SG, but there are no withdrawal fees (which are quite high). Société Générale is a partner of IUP, so ask about their offers.
-Open an account in Scotland. Some banks give 50 pounds when you open an account, which reimburses the 5 pounds you have to pay per month. Transfers can be made from France to Scotland without problems (but there will be charges).
EX of good banks: LLOYDS (mine) and the one partnered with the college...

HOUSING :

There are several possibilities:
-Cité U: get in early, as soon as you receive information on the internet, because there are more applications than places available. You'll be asked to pay 800 pounds in advance. La cité U is very well designed; students have their own room (quite spacious, unlike those found here!!), and share a 4 or 5-person apartment with a well-equipped living room-kitchen (oven, hob, fridge, freezer, toaster, microwave... BUT! no plates, pans, cutlery... but it's cheap and there's a real IKEA accessible by bus!). There's internet, a vacuum cleaner and a washing machine. The cité U is good, but only if you're in Morrion Circus, otherwise it's very noisy and the washing machine is shared by all the students in the cité (and you have to pay for it!). It's a 30-minute walk from the university, 5 minutes from the city center, and 2 minutes from a train station that serves all of Scotland and where the airport shuttle stops. If you have a dorm room, the great thing is that you don't have to arrive days in advance, as you'll be given your keys three or four days before the start of term.
-You can look for accommodation on GUMTREE, which is a specialized site, but be careful!... you have to start looking very early (July) to have enough time to search and come and visit, otherwise you'll find yourself in a stressful situation, spending terrible nights in hotels, and running the risk of ending up with a French roommate!

Accommodation costs around 350 pounds for a shared flat

IMPORTANT:

If you want to improve your English, you need to SPEAK ENGLISH EVERY DAY, even if it's only for 5 minutes!!!!! that's why, when you're looking for a flatmate, it's imperative to avoid moving in with French people, because French people don't speak English (we try but it's not possible) and French people speak English very badly! that's why you'll generally find ads from people who don't want to move in with French people, which is why it's so important to start early!

If you choose to rent through an agency, be careful with the rental contract. Remember, you're French and you don't understand much, so you might get screwed on the rental period. So read the contract carefully and try to negotiate.

STUDENT LIFE :

-Life in the UK is very expensive compared with France. The price of food is high, but the price of digital media, alcohol and clothing is lower. But don't leave without the bare minimum.
-You'll be in for a culinary shock... unfortunately. You'll be able to cook, but you'll have to want to! Hypermarkets like ASDA (which is the cheapest, but you'll have to take the bus) are accessible. In any case, you'll survive! And you'll be able to eat good food in pubs for very little money.
-sorties: everything is done for the student!!!! you'll always have offers whether for alcohol, clubs, clothes, visits...so make the most of it!!! and don't forget that Ryanair and Easy jet flights are very interesting for visiting other countries!

JOB STUDENT :

If you want to work, you'll work. There are lots of opportunities for student jobs. But remember that the courses are in English, so it's not as easy to learn, and you'll want to visit the country!

TRANSPORT:

the bus: always carry change for the bus; if you don't have the right amount you won't get on the bus and don't get angry at the drivers, they're mean and they can sue you (and you'll be wrong!)
-the cab: they're everywhere! it's not excessive and it's always practical
-shuttle: there's a shuttle that goes to and from the airport. it costs 3.50 pound one way and 6 pound round trip.
-the train: always useful to go to nearby towns like Glasgow!the train: always useful for going to nearby cities like Glasgow!

CELL PHONE :

Several possibilities:
-moi, j'ai gardé mon "06". I don't need to call people and I don't need to call. Calls are more expensive and everyone pays, but sms is the same.
-you can cancel your package and buy a package in Scotland. The offers are very attractive.
-you can reach an agreement with your operator to put your package in "mode-off" and pay only a few euros a month to be able to buy a package in Scotland.

SPORT:

Sport is great for many reasons:
-meet people
-let off steam
-and especially for speaking English!
The university offers dozens of ways to let off steam and you can even join clubs at other universities.
You'll have to pay 15 pounds for the license and then, depending on the sport(s) you choose, you'll be asked to pay a bit more for equipment and transport.
TIP: go to the day dedicated to sports and associations at the Craighlockart Campus.

FAC :

-the teachers are very friendly, speak very clearly and their lessons are interesting
-extra English lessons are possible, but be careful with timetables
-the teachers are very careful about who comes and who doesn't come to tutorials and practical work. Practical work is compulsory.
TIP:Remember to bring a blouse with you, as buying a blouse in Scotland is quite an investment!
-you'll have an essay to do throughout the first semester. Be careful, it's not that easy because they'll ask you things that we don't do in France so don't neglect this work and start from the beginning!
-go to all the classes, it's always better to understand and hear English.
-the cafeteria: bad plan!!! super expensive and really not good! better to eat a bite in something outside the college or even better, bring something to eat.
-UNLIMITED internet access 24 hours a day. there are hundreds of computers with internet connections, so if you can't afford to buy a computer, it's always a good idea!
-courses are available in powerpoint on your internet space. so there's no need to take notes in class, it's better to listen.
-if you can, buy a printer (why not several of you!) because printing is a budget! never print in color on the printer designed for that, otherwise you risk losing a limb!

AIR LINKS :

No direct flights from France to Edinburgh from mid-October to the end of March.

MISCELLANEOUS ADVICE :

-get a pocket dictionary
-learn vocabulary around the house (it always comes in handy!))
-get a vocabulary book and try to learn a little every day
-no more watching movies in French, from now on you must speak, joke, get angry, survive, dream and think in English
-get warm clothes, gloves, a hat, a hot-water bottle, sports clothes, two pairs of shoes, a swimsuit and ESPECIALLY, a backpacker and your camera!
-goup to people and speak English!