Some silly questions here. actually the university accommodation will include something like pillow, blanket and provide plates or spoons in kitchen or not? or we need to buy ourselves one?

Ya the accommodation fee really varies a lot. like mine one which is nearly about GBP 85 per week without "makan" (at U of Birmingham for 42 week contract). so if i estimate GBP 6000 for my living cost. then only about GBP 2500 for the transportation, clothes, food and little.... entertaiment. actually enough or not lei?

ANd usually what u guys cook at there ar? hope all the "SI FU" here can share their "recipe" a bit...

This post has been edited by kelvinbongcn: Aug 17 2006, 09:07 PM

he no la i mean just GBP2500 for others except accommodation per year... sorry if i confused u.. impossible i got soooo much muney laa hehehe

This post has been edited by kelvinbongcn: Aug 17 2006, 10:28 PM

About the Banking stuff, actually if i open a account... let's say in Llyonds bank.
Their student account is consider as saving account or not ? and usually their interest is calculating monthly or yearly? a bit blur in this , or we can choose one? i plan to apply cause if lucky got a free ipod also

How about this bank is it ok, will they have a lot of charges? like HSBC.. request for balance also CHARGE!!

Like for Emirates one, the max bag dimension that they approve is 45x35x16cm including the handle and roller. u can check more on their website i think other airline company will mostly the same also.

i heard they have sth call waterproof shoes, Jumper what are them? hmmm really donno enough space to pack or not.. Just 20KG only....

and is it common that university accommodation will provide rice cooker for u. i see they state RICE COOKER in my accommodation contract .. So is their Rice cooker same as OUR rice cooker??

how about other airlines ? last time i heard all the airlines implement the same rule after the terroist incident. All of them only allow ONE hand luggage with max dimension not more than 45x35x16. if u carry your laptop bag that also consider as one already so u are not allowed to bring any other hand luggage.

So is the information that i obtain is wrong or they have loosen the rule already?
Or the luggage allowance that scilent scream stated one ONLY apply to SIA? other airlines cannot do like that ka ?

Hi pal, can someone please tell me what are the items that i need to declare in the airpot? my friend tell me just walk to the green one which is " nothing to declare". But i heard british council ppl said we need to declare some items, if no then they will fine me if they check. So is it safe by just walking to the green path ?

Besides, i think this just related to chinese . i buy a bankdraft under my name, lets say BONG Fa Chai . when i go to uk and open a account, u know british people always want to make our name the other way which become "Fa Chai BONG". so i wish to know is -- will they consider "Bong fa chai & Fa chai Bong" as the same? this means can i bank in the bank draft into my "Fa chai BONG" account?. As i heard the HSBC ppl says that they consider not the same , so ask me to consider carefully before buying bankdraft .

Yup, one of my friend did it already by MAS. Good thing happened on him. His luggage is 25KG but the officer did not charge him . Beside, he carried one printer (with a container but the container weight 5KG la, so u know what is inside) on his hand with another bag. So the total weight he can carry is a lot more that other ppl can carry lo.

so how is it actually lei?? this means i can bring one laptop bag and one hand luggage on board for MAS?? hmm mati la my cargo luggage is overtweight now... 24kg...

Hi, i start my account in lloyds bank and plan to put some money in fix deposit. but the staff inside tell me that probably i cannot have exemption for the tax as i'm international student (this mean the interest i can take is deducted by tax, lesser). However, they are not sure yet and need to reconfirm. SO i need to seek for help here as anyone face this thing before? Btw i did receive a letter from my uni confirming that i'm student and will not need to pay for the council tax. thus, is council tax same as the tax mention by bank?

Hi Felix, so this means i can use the council tex exemption letter to prove to the bank that i no need to pay for the income tax and get full interest ? The ppl at there did ask me to fill up a form, but saying that they are not sure internationl student can avoid the tax or not. Or anyone of u here just fill up the form then will be able to get full amount of intrest? wihout having so much trouble?

Ha that helps a lot. ya the bank confirmed with me too. but they said if u really want u can call up a department and ask them to give u an appropriate form to fill in... Thanks . Btw, so this means for working as a part time, our salary will reduce also because of income tax?

Dont worry pal . i had the same problem as u too. but solved already because my uni staff go to talk with them. (the staff also get angry about their sys as i went and back for 3 times!!! in order to get my account opened). Their advice are try to follow what actually is in ur passport, as long as they can confirm which one is your first or family name then is ok. Try to avoid using middle name. so i just put my middle name stick with my first name . so that is some exp i get from them.
KAM BA DE . U must not give up wor, else u will no money to use . Cheer!!

My sister is also form TAR (E&E) and then to SHU (summer course) as well. but she get a decent job in Malaysia (1st silicon) and now in Singapore. So i think although world ranking is important but don't let it take over you. You have to make judgment on you and your parents' abilities as well

Remember to apply a HC2 or HC3 immediately when u reach UK. It helps a lot especially for thos who got problem for teeth and eye.
With HC3, i reveived root canal treatment and a crown with just £10+
get a FCUK glass with reaction and super slim lens just £150 (actual £300!!) in specsaver
with HC2 even cheaper!!

So this will help a lot.

This post has been edited by kelvinbongcn: Aug 21 2008, 05:05 AM

Remember to read through the terms listed on ur visa. if it says Not recourse to public found/ register with police or cannot work etc.. etc u must obey them. else u get big trouble if u want to extend ur visa in future.

For me i feel LloydsTSB is quite good. nice debit card design and u get a debit card easily with their account rather than natwest.

they got a good internet banking system. else u always need to bring all those stuff to generate password for ur account.

their interest rate is quite high as well for their saving account. and remember to get a form R85 (if not mistaken) so that u can get net interest rate