Every district or should I say everywhere suffers this problem. It is the matter of how intensified is it. As I said earlier, as long as you are extra carefully and stay out of trouble, then you are safe.

This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 8 2006, 11:56 AM

Technically, international students are not supposed to register a mobile line. They could only use pre-paid ("pay as you go") line. As you can see in their registration from (regardless whether it is O2, Vodafone or 3G etc), there is a column indicating the duration you have stayed in UK. You have to stay there for at least 2~3 years to be eligible for a "pay monthly" mobile line. But somehow, those sales assistants will make you eligible for it.

It is not necessary to buy from Tesco outlet. You could get it from Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile etc shops. Checkout their rates (post paid and pre-paid) before deciding one. Please note that the rates for pre-paid line would be expensive compare to "pay monthly" line (something similar like Malaysia's pre-paid line and postpaid line.). If you think you use at least £15 a monthly, I would suggest you to go for postpaid line. For the 1st month or so after you have arrived there, why not bringing your line together with you. Apply for International Roaming. I know it is expensive but at least it save you the hassle to hunt for a prepaid line. The first and second week will be quite hectic because you shop for groceries, registration for university, introduction week and stuff like that. It takes around 2 weeks to settle down.

There are plenty of IDD cards sold over there, which can be used to call back Malaysia from a landline, mobile line or phone booth. I have tried Telco Asia. It is quite good. But not as cheap as azarimy;s suggested website.

Take a look below for an example. Geminist warned about it but he still post irrelevant stuff like below.
This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 9 2006, 10:21 AM

It depends on your luck. They have thousands of flight passengers at airport carrying their own laptops. Do you think immigration officers have time to switch on one by one to check the licence? Even if they do, what are the odds?

It is advisable to those are going to overseas for further studies to thoroughly check with travel agencies or the company that you are travelling with. Please do it after a few days later. The reason I said after a few days is because the rules are still in process of refining and implentation. Therefore, what you hear now might be different than the day you are going to travel.

Chances are low. Unless you are a bright/excellent/genius graduate, you will find difficulties in landing a job over there. These are due to several reasons;

1) Work permit
2) Salary
3) Examination results

I did X-Ray + blood check before I went UK last time. But they didn't check at all. Maybe they are too busy coz quite a number of ppl are waiting in the queue at the Immigration

Hhhmmm.. I'm not sure about this though. Lately, I saw a few job adverts. for aeronautical eng.

Like the rest said, it is easy and you are entitled to 20 hours working only. The salary could vary to where you work (company I mean). In Sheffield, you could try the Student Union.

However, my advice is, do not overwork yourself. Make sure you do have time for yourself to do other stuffs (travelling, projects, socializing, rest). Going to UK is all about experience and having fun. I've been told by my friend that some students are there to earn money (because of the amount they get paid) and not to study, if you know what I mean. For example (this is what I heard and it is seriously happening), a student (yeah, that particular fella) only sleeps 3 hours a day. The rest of his time is working and university (I even doubt he goes to university for lectures). From day-time job to university to midnight shift job. That's really bad.

This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 13 2006, 04:44 PM

I bought my current laptop in UK because my previous one got stolen over there. The price is slightly higher but not by few £100s. And yes, you'll get the latest model in UK. Furthermore, there's student package offered by Apple whereby you'll get a iPod free if you purchased a Macbook.

As for console products (PSP, XBOX etc), I guess they are about the same price. Is just that you have to get original games. In UK, people tend to play console games compare to that of computer games. They are pretty fanatic about it.

Here's what I suggest:

Shoes : Wear your current one. Get a new pair over there because the material used is different from Malaysia.

Slippers : Get a new pair over here. Pretty hard to find one over there.

Winter Clothing : Bring one from here. Get the rest in UK. They have better design and more suitable.

Laptop : With current restrictions and assuming it will prolonged till end of the year, get it over there. It cost approx. the same but the price gap not too far apart.

Socks : Bring sufficient amount of socks that you need a week. IF you find it not enough, get it over there. Cheap yet good quality £3 for 5 pairs.

This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 14 2006, 10:47 PM

Congrats to you.

I got my suit from River Island. Expensive but good quality

Yeap.

Does British Airway resume their to UK from Malaysia? I thought they have cancel this unless you plan to take it from Singapore. Anyway, according to my parents, flight with BA is horrible compare to MAS. Probably it is because of the sits and there's no personal TV in front of you

11 hours is alright. I onced sat for 14+ hours. That was pure torturing because I'm sitting next to the fire escape door whereby I can't stretch my leg at all.

As for weight, for first timers, 20kg is not enough. I think MAS still offers 30kg to students. Check with them for clarification.

This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 15 2006, 03:37 PM

Last time, I was given two accounts by Natwest; Step and Saving account. A year after that, I applied for Master Card and they approved my application.

It is not necessary to get Switch card actually. Normally, places like Tesco, Sainsbury etc accept Solo card. On the other note, you need to key in your pin number whenever you make a purchase with your card. Unlikely over here, they fully utilise the microchip system.

Switch and Solo card are debit cards. Once you made a payment with one of these cards, it will directly deduct from your bank account.

All banks offer these cards. Switch is widely acceptable compare to that of Solo. However, you have to meet certain requirements before you are eligible for Switch card.

Get their contract offers. Some contracts come with free handphone (not the latest one though). You have to spend quite alot to get a brand new handphone itself (unless you get it from ebay.co.uk).

The contract period will varies. Some are 12 months while some are 18 months.

And yes, call charges are cheaper. Just like pre-paid and post-paid in Malaysia.

Normally payment method for phone bill is via direct debit. So, each month, a specific amount of money (which you used throughout previous month) will be deducted by the telco company from your bank account. So, what you can do is to leave sufficient amount of money in your bank so that the telco company able to do direct debit automatically.

On the other hand, please make sure that your bank account has sufficient amount of money in it to do direct debit. Else, the bank will charge you £30 (I think) for penalty.

I know how you feel because I kena 3~4 times during my stay in UK. I forgot to transfer money into another account. . So, practically I have donated £100+ to the bank for my mistake

Nope. I think it applies to all telco companies. And yes, they need to do credit check before proceeding to your application.

I'm not rich and not smart either. I'm lucky that I could go because my parents treat us (me and my siblings) equally

Checkout this site to have a better idea how telco companies sell their contract. It is one of the cheapest too.

This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 17 2006, 01:00 PM

Rental - £50+ per week (varies according to places)
Mobile Phone - £25 per month (Free xxx minutes + xx sms)
Food - £30~£40 per week(including eating out once a while and cooking for dinner everyday)
Entertainment - Varies!! £10 per night for me..heheh

And not to forget that you have to buy some cooking utensils and duvet, bed sheets and pillows too

If it is what you stated, I think it is not enough. If it is from July to October, then it is more than enough. (assuming that you have paid the tuition fees only)

For 11 hours, depends on what time is your flight. Whether it is in the morning or at night. Last time my flight was at night, so no problem for me. I could sleep right after they served supper. There will be movies to watch too. Down one glass of wine if you can't sleep

This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 17 2006, 05:24 PM

£400/month should be fine. For entertainment, increase your budget abit just in case.

Your room will be stripped naked. You need to get all those basic things on your own. Pillows, blanket (they called it duvet), bedsheets, spoons, forks, frying pans, kettle, etc. For starters, bring along one pair of spoon and fork (or even chopstick if you like) when you are leaving. Once you are settled, then you could go for mass shopping spree

£6000 = transportation, food, clothes, entertainment (a little bit ), and travelling. Yeah, it is enough provided you are super shoppaholic

Me cook everyday because me live in self-catered hall. Nobody cook for me. Me cook for ownself. Once a while tapau fish and chips, or chicken and chips (their fried chicken taste like KFC, serious!! ), or go to chinese restaurant with group of friends (later on off to pub for drinking feast ). I don't cook when I'm busy.

Are you bringing a small rice cooker along? It is quite handy. For bak kut teh, seal tightly. When comes to desperate times, you will end up chucking anything there is available and stir fry to serve as dinner

This post has been edited by goliath: Aug 17 2006, 09:35 PM