Student Loans in UK

Student loans and grants in the United Kingdom are mostly available from the government. The UK government makes available the loans and grants through the Student Loans Company or SLC for short which is a non-departmental public body.

The different student loans in the UK are the tuition fee loan, the maintenance loan and the maintenance grant:

• Tuition Fee Loan – The student loan which is called the tuition fee loan are loans which only full-time students. The loan covers the full cost of the tuition fee. In the 2009/2010 academic year that passed, universities are entitled to charge up to £3,225. This is except Scotland because the students there do not pay for tuition. During the 2010/11 academic year, the tuition fee increases to £3,290.

• Maintenance Loan – Another kind of student loan is the maintenance loan which have the purpose of helping students pay for living costs while studying at university. Each student is entitled to a certain amount; students living at their own homes are entitled to less and those living at universities in London are entitled to more. Students form families with low income can request that their loan be increased.

• Maintenance Grant – A maintenance grant is actually not a student loan. They are grants, which are not required to be repaid, given to students from low-income households on top of the maintenance loan.

These are the student loans UK students can avail of from the government. You can also avail of them if you qualify.

How Foreign Students Can Overcome Culture Shock in Another Coun

Culture shock is the difficulty of people in adjusting to a new culture that is very different with their own culture. This is especially applicable for foreigners who would immigrate to another country, or study on a short-term or long-term basis in a foreign country. Culture shock is the first challenge or problem that a foreign student or international student would experience when he settles in another country to begin his studies. The international student has to find ways or solutions in overcoming the culture shock problem. This problem is aggravated by adjusting to the different academic settings that are different from his home country, the academic tasks that he has to perform as part of his course, and the language barriers of communicating with native English speakers.

However, the foreign student could overcome the culture shock problem if he knows the general guidelines or tips on how foreign students could overcome the culture shock problem. It is also preferable if the student would read and study about the general guidelines or tips for overcoming the culture shock problem before he actually goes to the country where he would study. The student could get help about overcoming culture shock from the agency or organisation that arranges his education requirements for foreign study. The agency would usually conduct a seminar or provide the student with printed materials on how foreign students could overcome culture shock. The student could also read and study from the various online articles in the Internet that provides free information about overcoming culture shock.

The general guidelines for students in overcoming culture shock include having an open mind and he should not be judgmental. He should remember that social conduct or practices that are not acceptable or unusual in his country maybe acceptable or normal in the country where he studies. It is preferable if the student would do some research, and read and study about the social norms in the country where he would study. The student should also make an effort to learn and speak the native language of the country. This would help him in overcoming language barriers and prevent misunderstandings.

What Foreign Students Should Expect of Life in a UK University

Foreign students who are about to study abroad may find the idea exciting, but at the same time they may become nervous because they do not know what to expect of a new environment, new culture, people, and new ways of doing things. For students who are about to study in the UK, it would be easier for them to adjust to the transition if they plan ahead and read up on what to expect of university life in the UK. Below are some useful tips:

· Climate. England in particular does not have an actual rainy or dry season because rain is expected to fall at any time of the year. In warmer weather, the temperature can vary from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius while during the winter in January and February the temperature can fall be low zero degrees and snow will fall occasionally. If you are used to temperate weather, buy warm waterproof clothing such as coats and waterproof jackets. If you choose to live in a university hall or residence, the cost of heating is included in your tuition, but if you choose to live privately you will be paying for the heating in your room.
· Culture and Customs. English is the official and predominantly spoken language. However, it is not uncommon to hear other dialects spoken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. British people are known to be punctual, so be punctual for your appointments as well whether they be academic or social. It is considered courtesy in the UK to phone in advance when visiting someone. If you are invited to visit a family, greet them with a smile and a handshake. British people are known to be reserved, which is why you can expect for friendships to develop more gradually than what you are used to in your country.

Obtaining Financial Aid For International Students in The U.S.

When an international or foreign student pursues an undergraduate degree education or postgraduate degree education in the United States, it is presumed that he is financially capable of supporting his educational costs for the entire duration of his education in the U.S. However, there are instances or circumstances beyond his control that when he is already in American soil pursuing his education, then, he would suddenly or immediately need financial aid. 

There are also instances when a prospective international student wants to pursue his undergraduate or postgraduate education in the U.S., but he could not continue with his plans because his financial resources are not enough to sustain the entire duration of his studies in the U.S. However, there are financial aid programmes that are available for foreign students already in the U.S., and for foreigners who are planning to study in America. The key to obtaining financial aid would be knowing how and where to look for the available resources of financial aid for international students.

For the foreigners who are planning to study in the U.S., the main resource for financial aid would be searching the Internet about schools or organisations that offer financial aid for international students. The online resources are websites that offer information on how you could obtain scholarships, student loans and other types of financial aid for foreigners planning to study in the U.S. Some of the most popular websites include www.internationalstudent.com/, www.internationalfinancialaidblog.com/,and www.internationalscholarships.com/. 

For the international students currently enrolled in an American university or college and they would need financial aid, the best option for them are applying for student loans financed by private lenders or banks. However, a currently enrolled international student would only be approved for a student loan if the cosigner for the loan is an American citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.

Challenges or Problems Faced by International Students

I am now an incoming second year university student at a university in the state of California in the United States. Even though I have been here in the U.S., for almost two years, I still faced some challenges or problems that are common for international or foreign students like me who study in universities or colleges outside our own countries. When I was a first year university student and only a few weeks here in America, I encountered many challenges and problems that I thought I would not be able to overcome. But I persevered and I am now an incoming second year student.



So I hope that incoming international university students would be able to read this article so they would have an idea of the common challenges or problems faced by foreign students when they are newly arrived. The challenges include:



· Culture shock – International students face common challenges of culture shock because they have to adjust to an environment that is very alien and unfamiliar for them. They have to adjust to American customs, norms, traditions and values that are very different from the things back home. Consequently, they would have some problems in interacting and socializing with native born American students.
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· Language barriers – I am from Singapore and even if the English language subject is a part of our formal education system, my level of proficiency in written and oral English communication skills would still not compare to the English of native born American students. I am not alone because I have read that several academic studies have stated that a significant number of incoming international students have an inadequate level English language proficiency. This would lead to problems in understanding lectures given by lecturers, in taking down notes of the lectures, and in talking with native born American lecturers and students during class discussions.
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· Academic differences – The teaching style of American university lecturers are different compared to the teaching style of the lecturers where the international students came from. In the American style of university teaching, the lecturers expect their students to engage in oral discussions and ask questions from the students during the middle of lectures.

Students abroad, international students or foreign exchange students

This is a blog dedicated to discussing the life of students studying abroad on their own initiative or as foreign exchange students. This blog aims to provide details on the experiences of international students in adapting to their new new school and the culture, language and practices of the country they are studying in.

International students will encounter a lot of challenges. First of all, they will be cut off from important social connections such as family, friends and acquaintances. Students who are not familiar with travelling abroad will have to contend with the loneliness of being in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people—at least, until the time comes when they can find friends and gradually adapt to their school community. Since studying in another country will also mean bigger expenses, some students will need to have part-time jobs to augment their source of funding to cover tuition, books and school paraphernalia, and living expenses. Thus, it is important for these students to find support wherever they can, even in online blogs such as this one.

Beyond the difficulties of university life for an international student lies its rewards. This blog will also talk about how an international student's world-view is expanded, how meeting other students of a different race and culture broadens his or her understanding of other people. The student will also have plenty of opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of his or her host country. However, the best reward of all is the opportunity to apply whatever knowledge the student has gained from his or her host university that he cannot gain from studying in his own country.

I hope that the information contained in this blog will help other students who are looking to study abroad prepare for this experience.