So expensive? I bought the extended trilogy in january 2005 for £45 only

Ah okay wait I misunderstood. Sorry, I shouldn't post replies when I'm too sleepy; I thought you were saying you paid the 24 quid for each of the three LOTR extended versions. LOL sorry.

Well during that time, almost everywhere the LOTR special extended DVD trilogy boxset (12 DVDs to watch, woooot!) was being sold for 60 quid (it got released december 2004), so 45 quid was literally a steal! Of course now after a year and a half, the prices would have dropped some!

This post has been edited by elb: Jul 5 2006, 09:02 PM

Photocopying a book? That will be even more expensive than buying one here. You are entitled to only photocopy a certain number of pages and if I am not mistaken you need to sign a form or something.

Heck, it isn't even enough for an MSc. Your supervisor will flip if s/he finds out that you aren't using sources such as Web of Knowledge etc; but instead relying on Google. And oh, no Wikipedia too. Do so for your research projects at your peril.

You can just buy/ rent the DVDs you really want to watch. The older movies sell for as low as 3 pounds (usually 7-9), the newer ones between 15 - 25 pounds (depending whether you want the movie only or the special edition).

HSBC is fine for me. I have had no problems with them, be it starting my bank accounts or general day to day use. My friend's NatWest cards got sent all the way back to Malaysia instead of the local branch

Anyway, branch coverage isn't really a problem with the availability of telephone and internet banking. And like someone pointed out, you can withdraw from virtually any other ATM at no charge at all. ATM-sharing (or whatever the term is) should be bloody adopted in Malaysia, I tell you.

Here is a list of jobs for which it is relatively 'easy' to find a job (as in the companies do not have to write a detailed report to prove that they have not managed to find anyone else suitable within the EU for that job, etc etc). Not to say that you cannot find a job outside of those listed, but you will probably need to be specialized or are a very promising graduate/ worker for the company to pick you above anyone else in the EU who is competing for the same job.

http://www.skillclear.co.uk/skilllist.asp

Of course, you need to have an officially recognized/ accredited degree, etc etc.

Of course, if you read carefully they did state that for the engineering related fields in that list, you need to have the relevant experience.

And like I said, if you are promising or have the stuff the companies are looking for, then some of the companies will be willing to bend their backs and to make the effort to get you that work permit in spite of the EU competition. Having a degree from the top few universities will certainly help.

(quote babysmile)
@jooku1

Last time when i wana join Barclays, they wan to deposit 1000 Pounds. Less than that need 2 pay 5 Pounds per month. When I'm using HSBC international student, I do not charge any in any month. I have to ask my brother since he just open an HSBC international account last 2 months. Let u know later..

About O2, if you get some UK Chinese newpapers, they offering a lots of telephone numbers to call back Malaysia, China for free using the free minutes on O2 or pay little money on public phones.. So O2 won't introduce this, benefits for us and tell Vodafone to say bye bye to them. lol.. Orange network seem also can call but still yet to be confirm ... Better stick with O2..

(endquote)

Again, what's all the big fuss over HSBC? I opened a current account with HSBC UK with no problem. In fact, I have several accounts with them. No £5 monthly charges whatsoever.

Three also accepts 08xx numbers. And no, you don't need to look at Chinese newspapers. Just Google them.

(quote jooku1)
Thanks man, appreciate your help. Can you also ask him how long it took and whether he applied for it online from Malaysia or when he got there?
(unquotejooku1)

You need to do it instore. An O2 contract done online does not qualify for inclusive 08xx calls (unless they have changed it since I last checked). By right, you need to have been a resident of the UK for a minimum of 3 years before you can even have a contract line.

I brought along my passport, my bank draft, and an introductory letter. And I think my offer letter as well. As for the account, mine's currently a current account (no pun intended). I doubt it ever was a student's account from day 1, unless they upgraded me somewhere along the way which I can't remember. But there was definitely no £5 monthly fee.

This post has been edited by elb: Aug 17 2006, 08:21 PM

Of course not. Central London is a different ballgame altogether from the rest of the UK (property prices at the least).

This post has been edited by elb: Aug 18 2006, 08:55 AM

At a postgrad level, some universities bear the cost of printing etc. Your office should come equipped with a laser printer and you just take the paper from stores.

Not really. I'm under no scholarship or grant, and I have my own office that I share with a couple of friends, and we get to print what we want at no additional cost. I have other friends from other departments who don't get their own office, though. So it all boils down to departmental policy, if you ask me.

Paper is heavy. At any rate, you can buy a 500 piece stack for around £3. And
quite frankly, all you need to bring are things to settle you down. The rest can be bought; it is not too expensive if you shop smartly.

One thing which I think I should mention to people with regards to laptops. The issue of where to buy laptops (and to quite frank, anything electronic and expensive such as dSLRs etc) were discussed before, but I did not point out what could be the turning point: Warranty.

If you are here for one year, then buy them from Malaysia. The international warranty will cover you (most manufacturers offer one year international warranty), although trying to claim the warranty could be a pain in the butt.

If you will be here for longer, then buy them from the UK. Sure, its pricier, but think about it. You'd usually be able to get three year (local UK) warranties, and you don't need to suffer the hassle (price-wise, for courier expenses which can be very very expensive; and time wise especially). If you will be here for your entire course, this option is well worth looking at.

I am not familiar with Dell actually. Well actually, yes thank you for reminding me. Some manufacturers do allow you to pay more for an extended international warranty but it has to be done within a certain time frame of purchase. I do not recall the price but I think it is a couple of hundred ringgit or something.

There is another problem though. Some of the UK dealers would try to avoid accepting liability for international warranties - they really beat around the bush when my friend's laptop's hard drive failed on him, telling him that he should contact Malaysia, that it wasn't their business etc. It took him a few months just to get that problem fixed.

And if you buy it here, you get to get your hands on some of the newest models which might not come on sale in Asia for a few months.

This post has been edited by elb: Aug 22 2006, 01:10 AM

Indeed, my friend's laptop is a very well known international brand. So I disagree with your 'point of story'.

Oh, my friend's laptop in question belongs in the three brands you just quoted.

Yes they have waterproof stuff. The most popular waterproof technology is a membrane called GoreTex. Heck, even Prada Sport has a range of clothes which are made with GoreTex.

Expect to pay around £60 for GoreTex shoes (let's say, from Clarks), and £200 for good GoreTex (winter) jackets (let's say, from Tog24). If you don't like them heavy, there is a lighter (and pricier) GoreTex XCR version. Alternatively there are many other clothes made from different waterproof technologies which sell for cheaper.

If I were you, I'd grab some Samyang or Nongshim noodles instead. Much better, but slightly pricier at just below 50p a packet.

I agree. Open up your taste buds!

This post has been edited by elb: Aug 25 2006, 04:58 PM

You're referring to the NX2 card, issued by the National Express (think Transnasional etc, but with up to date and clean and on-time coaches). It gives you up to 33% discount on the National Express coaches. It has nothing to do with your university.

Personally I just use my Young Person's Railcard and move around by train.

You all haven't looked hard enough. Look for thick caramel sauce.

add on: You can also purchase dried Chinese mushrooms from some shops (at the very least, London's Chinatown)

This post has been edited by elb: Sep 1 2006, 06:40 AM

As far as I am aware, this restriction applies to any flight to or from UK airports. So whether it be MAS/ SIA/ BA/ Qantas/ whatever, you are only allowed one bag maximum within the dimensions 45 x 15 x 30 cm (or thereabouts). No exceptions.

This post has been edited by elb: Sep 3 2006, 09:54 PM

The immigration officers ask you those questions partly as a basic test of your English language skills. If you can't answer them, then either

1) You're an illegal immigrant with forged documents and have no idea how to answer what they are asking you (just because, or because you can't speak English to begin with)
2) You have lousy English and do not reflect what your IELTS should be (then you would have not been made an offer as a decent IELTS is prerequisite)
3) You're lost, like tommy141184 (joking mate!)