Thanks! Will most likely do priority Visa. Planning to fly on the 15th so the sooner I get the visa, the better.


PS Anyone still going to do their Visa, appointment with VFS is full under Tier 4 Student category. I suggest (like I did) to book an appointment under 'other' category as there are some spots left there. Just did my biometric today and everything was smooth sailing.

This post has been edited by azzaim92: Sep 3 2013, 10:33 AM

Should be okay. I'm bringing a few packs of Brahim nasi goreng kampung and a few packets of kari ayam along for the first few days/weeks.

Yes, that would most likely be the Visa payment. You may bring someone to the visa centre, but only you are allowed in the office on the 19th floor.

Go to the 3rd floor first to get your documents checked out, and then make your way to the 19th floor to give the required documents to the officer. You will also pay any extra service fees (priority) here.

Please make sure you bring all the necessary documents, especially your ATAS and TB certificate as you will not be able to proceed with the visa application without these documents.

PS

I saw a parent scolding their son for not prepared all the necessary documents beforehand and they couldn't do the visa that day.

Anyone knows how to change your google play country? Trying to download Barclays app but can't seem to be able to do it on my S3....

My monthly estimate is around 300 pounds for groceries and about 2-3 days of eating out (say 10 pounds a day for eating out, and about 30 pounds a week for groceries max. Any extra is used for whatever extras that I might need to buy.

I try to spread it throughout the day, breakfast at home (something small) maybe a sandwich, pizza, or jacket potatoes for 2-3 pounds and the rest for dinner.

At Leeds for example, you could get breakfast buffet for 4 pounds if you know where to look, and a chinese dinner (rice, 2 meat dishes, half a duck, chinese tea, 1 veggie dish and 1 tofu dish between 8 friends (or so) divided would be around 7-8 pounds per person.

Hope this helps

Hi Adre.... HAHAHAHAHHA

I took diploma in mechanical engineering from UiTM. Applied and got conditional offers to all 5 unis I applied for (Sheffield, Leeds, Strathclyde, Heriot-Watt, and I can't remember the last one

London will be significantly more expensive than other places. If you're somewhere in the West Yorkshire region where I am, you're looking at about GBP800-900 per month. Rent about 400, everything else 400

Unfortunately no, mech eng you're looking at GBP16-17k per year + GBP600-800 for accommodation and food. I'm in University of Leeds by the way.

I hear Leeds isn't too bad Quite a lot of HELP students going into second and third year. (unless you want to aim very very high; probably Cambridge?)

This post has been edited by azzaim92: May 27 2014, 04:09 PM

Yes, minimum top up is 10 quid. I think the person (like me) is using a goodybag for 12 pounds a month. Unlimited text, 250 minutes I think and unlimited internet.


Awesome! If you have any questions, do ask away!

This post has been edited by azzaim92: Jun 12 2014, 07:56 PM

Ok time to start!

I lived in university accommodations. Google Montague Burton . I was lucky enough to be in the same flat with 4 other Malaysians, so most of the awkwardness and having to get to get used to another ones living habits sort of gotten averted as we're more used to how Malaysians tend to think and act.

Actual accommodations are quite nice, having to share one shower and bathroom kinda sucked but you can always look for accommodations with ensuite facilities. The staff here are very helpful and tend to sort out any problems quite quickly. You can always choose to tick the muslims option in the University accommodations selection parameters and they'll try to house you with muslims. I've got friends living in Charles Morris, Concept Place, Devonshire Hall, Ellerslie, Henry Price, Liberty Dock and a few more I can't remember at the moment so let me know what places you're looking at and I'll give my personal view on it

Most malay muslims tend to live around the area of Hyde Park and Woodsley Road as it's very close to Leeds Grand Mosque and there are quite a number of halal shops there. Don't worry about halal restaurants, there are plenty though you might miss McD and KFC while you're here There are also a number of halal butchers available, Mahmood's Butcher is the one I'd recommend if you're looking for a variety of different meats to choose from. It's slightly more expensive than non-halal meat (based on my research) but it only varies by about GBP 1 per kg.

I'll be renting a house with a few of my friends next year. Pricing is about GBP75 per month or GBP85-90 with utilities for a 4 floor house though you can get cheaper ones nearer to Woodsley Road (GBP200 per month per person.) Honestly, if you're not into the whole party drunken scene, you're gonna have a hard time if you're sorted into accommodations with foreign students (IE UK people.) I've got loads of friends that start of quite well but as time goes by, becomes more and more pissed at some of the attitudes and mentality of their housemates. I'm not saying all are like that but quite a number tends to weight towards the negative.

If you're looking for accommodations with malays, LumSoc (Leeds Malaysian Society) can help out as they've actually looked for around for places to house freshers every year. Do check their Facebook page and just let them know you're coming.

In terms of dodgy places, there aren't that many places to stay away from but NEVER walk across Hyde Park at night. There aren't any lights around and it's much darker than its surrounding with attracts a number of pickpockets and those sort of people. You'll hear a lot of ambulance sirens passing by, but that's only because Leeds as a hospital nearby the university

In terms of the university, obviously I'll be a bit biased but I love studying here. Doing mechanical engineering and most of my lecturers are quite competent at what they're doing. HAving studied diploma and going into first year though, I have already learnt most of the materials and I find myself not going to class sometimes The chemical engineering is definitely more strict when it comes to absence of students as they check whether or not you're going to classes. I think 3 classes missed and you'll need to go meet up with the board, so make sure you go to classes!

It's true that you'll need to get medical checkup and medicine separately but NHS has been quite ok in my opinion. Had a friend who messed up his knee and the doctor had him do surgery and therapy free of charge so I wouldn't complain too much about it.

Other than that, Leeds is pretty pleasant! I love living here and I prefer it to places like Manchester because everything is concentrated and you can walk everywhere


PS I've got a friend doing chemical engineering right now and he says he'll be happy to help if you have any questions with the course itself.

This post has been edited by azzaim92: Jun 13 2014, 05:09 AM

I aim to work in the aerospace industry, and as such Malaysia isn't exactly the ideal choice when it comes to my field of interest. Although there are some companies that attract my interest in Malaysia, I'm the sort of person that would like to try new things and new experiences. If given the opportunity, with benefits that could enhance my life, I'll go and try them. If my rezeki is to stay and work in Malaysia, I'll be happy.

If given a choice that provides similar benefits in terms of my job I'll probably go to UK, and that only because I cannot stand Malaysian weather.

This post has been edited by azzaim92: Jun 13 2014, 06:52 AM

IT stuff are really expensive in the UK. Don't know why they just are. So if you're planning on getting phones, harddrives, tablets or stuff of that nature, might as well buy them here in Malaysia. As for Amazon, I've had exactly 100 transactions with them in 9 months. Once you start, it's going to be hard to stop HAHA Be sure to buy from Amazon EU S.a.r.L. or make sure to check whether the sellers are legit.

Congratz on Leeds! I'm been there for a year now, going into second year this September. Most people use KLM Malaysia> Amsterdam> Leeds (By far the easiest method,and the cab services outside Bradford Airport can get you straight to your accommodations. You could also take Emirates, Qatar Malaysia> Manchester then take a taxi/bus/train to Leeds (bit more tedious especially with luggage and all.) I'll be heading there using MAS Malaysia>London>Leeds myself but it's really up to you.

As for visa interview, no need to wear formal, just smart casual is fine.

Going through London might take a while because you'll have to go through London immigration. Might get packed.

This post has been edited by azzaim92: Jul 31 2014, 11:27 PM

UK wallplugs are the same as Malaysia, so no need to worry about adapters. You could buy one know, cause if you're planning to travel around Europe, theirs are different and you can never go wrong with bringing one along to charge your phone/camera/whatnots when you need to.

Can.

Leeds as well?

Oh yaaaa. HAHA I don't tend to look at usernames

Currently in Malaysia, flying back on the 21st. As for rice cooker, I bought a rice cooker with my flatmates, so it was cheaper than buying one on your own. Most people I know there tend to just buy the rice cooker either from Amazon or Asda

As for other electronics, computer parts and phones tend to be cheaper in Malaysia so if you're planning on getting those, better do it now.

Buy some perencah if you're into traditional foods. The local chinese store stocks on some malaysian brand items like kicap manis ayam (the green/red colour ones HAHA) as well as some adabi kari ayam. But they usually won't have anything like asam pedas or kurma (there is kurma in UK but it's not the same.) HAHA

I bought this rice cooker http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russell-Hobbs-1975...rds=rice+cooker for GBP30 last year, so it's a deal now.


PS I'm sure you can get good rice cookers in Malaysia as well. As for it being bulky, I can't go into it that much because I personally brought my desktop tower+monitor to UK (paid extra rm200+ to add on a luggage, gamer at heart so it's much much cheaper than shipping it to the UK )

This post has been edited by azzaim92: Aug 24 2014, 08:27 PM

I agree with you. You get more versatility if you go with private accommodations but I would recommend freshers to go into University accommodations, at least for the first year. It's a great experience and if you're lucky enough to get amazing flatmates, it's going to be something to remember. Then, if you feel like going private next semester, at least you can go survey the accommodations available and can negotiate with the landlord for a good deal.