it is free competition, and there is no guarantee.....but because, unlike oz now, the number of f1 places has kept up with the graduating numbers, nobody have missed out on placement yet...

remember, some graduates leave the uk, eg msia scholarship students back to msia, or people who choose to go straight to spore for housemanship....

post f2, if one does not get matched into a postgrad rotation, then one will have to leave....again, in recent years, many msias actually choose to leave to go to spore, even if they do have a match....

this is the asian century, so the place to be asia, especially the far east and sea.....hk, spore, and lately, shanghai and beijing, have been attracting many expatriates.....both westerners as well as 'returning asians'.....

the uk is NOT a very good place to live, not least of which is the lousy weather.....so actually the majority of msians do NOT intend to stay on in uk after their education....(the situation for 'asians' is different.....they want to stay on....'asians' in uk context means sub-continent people.....

specific to spore and the living environment, it's a pressure cooker, but some people thrive in it.....however spore is NOT a good place for the middle aged and retirees.....unless you already have lots of money.....

don't get me wrong......the uk is an interesting place to live, travel, visit....short to medium term....

but it looses it's charm after a while....

living for the rest of you life there?...

some of my contemporaries did stay back....but the majority left.....

like i said, the tier 2 visa is still available, and people who managed to get a firm job offer are eligible.....

however, the fact remains that is increasingly difficult to find a job.....and it would be a mistake for anyone to go to uk to study with the notion that they will be able to stay back after.....they may.....but chances are low....

actually, living cost does influence decision on where to apply......those with marginal finances will normally avoid london.....

yes, it is possible to get 'cheap' accommodation in london itself.....which by definition, means far in the outskirts of london, perhaps zone 4 and beyond.....so if the uni is in central london, as most of the top ones are, the transportation cost will be significant.....

on the other hand, in most mid size cities, it is possible to have cheap accommodation walking distance from the uni....and substantial savings in transport costs.....

other than imperial, ucl and perhaps kings, london uni fees are about equivalent with other russell group unis outside london.....

similar type rentals are at least 50% more in london.....

a central rental next to a uni say, in sheffield, may cost the same as a zone 5 rental in london, 45 min from central london.....but they are obviously different things.....

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Added on July 7, 2012, 11:22 pmsince the old msia house at bryanstone sq was closed in 2002, i am not aware of any new property with rooms which they rent out.....

can you rpovide a link to their website?.....googling only lead to the msian student dept, with no details of a new msia house.......

This post has been edited by limeuu: Jul 7 2012, 11:22 PM

It used to be about 7 pounds for non students at Bryanstone Sq, but that was many years ago...

how many rooms do they have?

have they restarted the cafeteria?....used to be the only place to get authentic msian food at reasonable prices!

not sure about 'many years'.....certainly till the next boxing day sale....

a decent size room 5 min walk to uni of nottingham is gbp305/mth inclusive of utilities...

This post has been edited by limeuu: Jul 9 2012, 05:26 PM

my apologies, it's pounds....

and walking to the campus....no transport cost at all....

there is no 'tube' in nottingham....

minimum wage is 6 quid an hour.....

it is not that easy to find work lately....

use it to supplement your allowance, but do NOT depend on it to cover your living expenses.....and it certainly will NOT cover fees.....

if you have an offer letter, there is a discount on the passport fees....

those already with cas no, get the visa now, and avoid the crowds when the a levels results are released.....

eh....i thought they only need 1 year's fees and living expense?.....

ah....so it's a daughter...!

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Added on July 26, 2012, 4:01 pmah.....an oz alumni.....

This post has been edited by limeuu: Jul 26 2012, 04:01 PM

yes.....

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Added on July 26, 2012, 10:33 pmisn't the funds requirement the 1st year's fees and 9 months living expenses?....

it's 800x9=7,200 in london and 600x9=5,400 outside london......

This post has been edited by limeuu: Jul 26 2012, 10:33 PM

unless there is specific requirements from the uni, the ukba only want a cxr....and nowadays, they will ask for the xray and report......so keep it with you in your hand carry......

if you don't have it, they will do one on the spot for you, at the immigration area......and charge you for it.....can't remember how much....

the academic year is actually 9 months, so they only want funds for 9 months...

looks like they have increased the estimated cost of living now....a significant 200 quid a month increase...

this is however just an estimate, and how much one actually spends depends on one's lifestyle....however, since the devaluation of the pound sterling 2 years ago, education, both fees and cost of living, has been cheaper in uk than oz....

'check ups' not required....ie, there is no formal medical examination and tests as that required by oz.....

but they do and will ask for cxr on arrival....

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Added on July 28, 2012, 5:06 pmthe uni requirement, as specific to medical students, are rather lax in uk.....so if you have passed the aussie one, they will probably accept....

this is different from what ukba may want before they grant an arrival visa.....the website says for msia, they will choose at random.....but when i ask the officer on arrival, she said they would generally want a cxr from all students from the 3rd world.....thankfully we were forewarned and had the cxr with report all ready....

This post has been edited by limeuu: Jul 28 2012, 05:06 PM

just get the drafts....if beyond rm50k, you need to usually fill a bnm form at the bank to declare the purpose.....then just bring the drafts with you, there is no problem.....

do note that is now VERY difficult to open an account in a uk bank, they do have stringent requirements....and the support letter from the uni is crucial...that may not be available till you actually enroll on site, but i think many unis realise the problem, and do sent the letter with the sachet of documents on acceptance of the course....

hsbc took over midland bank in the 90's, and it's uk network is based on the now defunct midland bank....