Hey all got a few stuff i feel like asking before i go.

1) Allowance. Do you think GBP270 is sufficient for living expenses per month? (this money if for duit makan and entertainment bla bla NOT for accommodation)

2) What bank do you use? Recommend me one.

3) Insurance? What type and which company?

4) E&E. How hard is that subject? I heard that complex numbers are rather important. Tell me what other things are important for this subject.

Lastly, anyone going Imperial College here? If you are, pls intro urself too! want to get to know more (senior or juniors or same year). And also those going to London to study in general. THose taking E&E are also welcome to intro so that there can be exchange of info

HAVE A NICE DAY!!!!!!!!

wokay... thankx u both. it seems hsbc is quite good. is it the student account? (or is there one?) will check out later anyway. more importantly any good perks from that bank??? and as for natwest and llyods are they good banks? they have quite some benefit (though im nt sure if they are useful). such as natwest giving the public transport discount card (or something like tat) and llyods a bunch of things. pls give some advice on them.

oh for mobile phone, what do u think? shud i get a postpaid or prepaid? and what telco? so far i only know 3, O2, vodafone. recommendation pls

@Geminist: yea..transport to uni wont be a prob since i'll be right beside the uni (south kensington area there). i'm going in first year so im also in campus accommodation. How much is PruHealth premium p.a.? or u have to pay per month?

god!!! there is a malaysian fresher's group! didnt noe that. better go add myself in later. i'm flying on the 2nd october. how bout u? anyway that's cool. ur taking E&E MEng or BEng? nice to noe you!

btw it seems u did go for the fresher's camp. I din i wanted to but i have been crossing the south china sea a bit too often in august so my parents say no coz i'll be crossing it again soon (2 more times this month). so i think u can guess which part i'm from.

anyway....how's the postpaid system in UK? mind give some explanation?

owh....ok. btw i heard of free phone stuff there. how does it work? u buy a pack and they give u free phone?? im feeling so blur and the free minutes from postpaid... is it for any calls to any telco or landline or juz between the O2 networks? so as the free text. and can u use them for free overseas calls?

do u mean master intake date as in u take the MEng course from 1st year (undergrad) or ur going for postgraduate?

bring watever u can jkg anyway bring most importantly documents (passport, medical report, chest x-ray etc.) ur laptop, a few warm clothes (1 or 2 sweaters/sweat shirts, 1 or 2 long johns, mayb a jacket will be useful too), 1 or 2 sets of formal attire for ur functions, dinners and so on (buy the other clothes there its much better and more suited for the weather there). food just pack a few packets of 5 of maggi and canned food not too much of u'll get stop at customs there. money..... bring some in cash form and travellers cheque others in bank draft. don try to bring too much of clothes or food though ........ 20KG limit aint much.

oh yes... if u can, get the cooking utensils and bed sheets , pillow cases and blanket there. there r some companies who in collaboration with the uni accommodation who can sent it straight to ur room. this so far what i know and what i'll bring to UK in october (got those tips from my seniors)

got a question to all:

For visa app, who can certify copies of documents? is it the commissioner of oath? and do one need to give financial documents if the student is fully sponsored?

thankx in advance. and oh ya @acwc, hope i answer ur question. @others: pls add in (or correct me/give better advice) coz I'm also in the same boat as acwc

for students i doubt they'll check la. usually customs wont check, but to be on the safe side make sure ur OS is at least genuine or appear genuine

don rub salt into my wound i reli wish to go. so got any pretty gals going imp that u notice?

btw yeah i receive my letter dy. i'll be at falmouth hall (southside). twin sharing en suite tho. u? single or twin? Fisher hall is how far from south kensington campus? LOL....anyway yea i'm taking MEng 4 year course. Urs is MEng for postgraduates or the undergrad version?

owh so monthly...GBP25 how much u spend for food per month anyway? and do u cook or eat out? oh ya...ur HP ur using pre- or postpaid?

This post has been edited by Arturia: Sep 9 2008, 03:12 AM

Good luck bro. all the best!

oh who? hehe...so far i noe also a gal doing EEE with mgmt but she's from s'pore (i juz went through facebook list and simply add those going imp ) is it? then intro him its good to noe as many ppl as possible. as for price mine is bout GBP116/week. urs?

i thought ISA only for the locals there? nt for us(foreigners) rite?

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Added on September 10, 2008, 2:36 am1) its better if you bring so. here i quote from VFS-uk-my (http://www.vfs-uk-my.com/where.aspx)

"Due to the standard of health care here in Malaysia we do not insist on a formal medical check before an entry clearance is issued. However, Paragraph 36 of the UK Immigration Rules states that on arrival in the UK any person who intends to remain for more than 6 months should normally be referred to the Port Medical Inspector for a medical examination (queues can be long ). Additionally, an ECO has discretion to refer any other person for an examination if necessary.


If you intend to stay more than 6 months you may therefore wish to have a medical check-up shortly before you travel and carry the examination results and a chest X-ray with you. "

2) Not sure bout this. some one else might answer for you.

3) you can bring knife or other sharp materials as long as its in ur check in luggage. you MUST NOT bring them in your hand carry luggage or in ur pocket.

4) I think its fine. but better check with the others

This post has been edited by Arturia: Sep 10 2008, 02:39 AM

lol..y don u just bring some from here?

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Added on September 11, 2008, 2:04 ambtw wat brand of instant noodle do they have?

anyway, juz a question, how do you find availability of Halal food there? or do i have to go for kosher certified food? especially in london (more specifically south kensington area)

edit: another question, how do you find study life in uni? i was told that study time is from 9am - 6pm? Mon ---> fri except on wednesday. isnt tat a bit "wow"?

This post has been edited by Arturia: Sep 11 2008, 02:06 AM

hey guys can shed some light here? im reli confused with this AER stuff.... ok lets say a savings with interest rate 5% AER (4% nett). i put in bout GBP1000. and the interest is paid monthly. so do i get GBP40 per month (1000x4%) or do i get something else? pls explain in detail

that makes sense. i was actually planning while i enter the UK I'll have some of my funds deposited into a monthly savings or something equivalent (or maybe a long term bond) where interest rate will be bout the 5% - 6% range.

anyway can recommend me a good high interest deposit or monthly savings? and pls tell me the interest rates and also are they any charges hidden?

thank you

well...*blur* seems to be able to understand a little bit better now

btw, if i opened a HSBC account when i go to the UK, do I need to open the passport account or can I just open another different account? i don reli like the passport account

btw...open the online saver can be at any banks rite? coz i notice barclays e-savings reward also almost offer the same thing and it is close to imperial

edit: also i wan to ask bout ISA. can I open an account for one? or are they some conditions?

This post has been edited by Arturia: Sep 13 2008, 01:45 PM

well...ISA offers better rates. 6%++ compared to 5%. juz one percent difference though. btw we have to fill in some forms for tax exemption rite?

if u had not seat for ur real exams (read:finals), the admission tutor will use a forecast result. and if accepted u'll be be offered a conditional offer.

@youngkies: the passport account has a monthly fee to it its nt worth the interest as the monthly fee outweigh the interest. btw some banks provide something such as bonus in percentage (eg Barclays 0.75% first 12 month bonus) what does it mean?

This post has been edited by Arturia: Sep 13 2008, 07:31 PM

lol we'll reli learn A HECK lot from this UK trip. btw how many cold/winter clothes is considered necessary to bring from here?

wokie can recommend a good shop? or brand? reasonably priced

btw had been researching a little bit more bout opening a bank acc in UK, seems to be very hard. what kind of troubles should i expect and what do i need to do to overcome them? also are they any documents needed from here (other than a passport) to simply the opening of account there? and what other documents needed there to open the acc.?

visa how long does it take to complete? im submitting mine on the 17th. and i noe its kinda tight. do you think it'll it be in time before my flight on the 2nd october?

anyway if ur a sponsored student, do you need to submit ur bank statements and all? or just submit the sponsor's letter?

edit: also, can I go and submit the visa application earlier than the appointment date? for example, i made the appointment on the 17th but decided to go on 16th. can or not?

This post has been edited by Arturia: Sep 15 2008, 02:17 AM