yes, PSW is replacing IGS, which you are allow to work in UK without any working permit. it is a 2 years visa. I think most of university is eligible for visa, you need to both check it. I suppose home office do has a link to check the university is under this scheme. if you plan to work in UK, i think the best is to take the course which has the industrial training, as nowadays company in UK hiring graduates prefer more working experience. the more working experience you have, the higher chance you will offer by the company. But of course, you choosing course and university, you must hv interest on it.

well, all university do have good and bad lectures. you can't run away from bad lecturer. it's depends on you, there's no spoon-feeding in postgraduate. Sometimes you need to figure out and try all solution when you have problem before go to the lecturer...

what i know is, usually taught master course will use the same undergraduate modules. but the way you learn is more mature and independent, which is probably cover more topic compare with undergraduate student and the way lecturer teach is different. i would say the material is the same, but the assignment and expectation from lecturer is more for postgraduate.

erm, to be honest, i not quite sure about university birmingham and sheffield. But i think there's some lyn members are studying in both of this university. sorry can't help much...

if the rules haven't change yet, you can work part-time job, as long the working hours is not more than 20 hours per week (during term-time). but when you have submit your dissertation for your MSc and waiting for result, you can work (if you plan to apply PSW visa) while your student visa still valid (this is only when you got ur result/finish project & exam).

are you sure there's not information for paying the fee for student visa? scroll down the page where you are looking at the table for each visa fees. there's few ways to do that, you can either pay it via online banking, bank transfer and get the bank draft (this need to pay RM5, others should hv any surcharge).

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Added on March 23, 2009, 6:12 ammake sure your fixed deposit is updated, coz usually FD is using automatically update. but when you are using it for financial proving, you must go to the bank and update ur FD before submission. otherwise they will reject your application. or if you have monthly bank statement for your FD, you can use it.

i tot this new requirement (living expenses proving) only will start in next 2 weeks? so if anyone is coming in next 2 months, this 2 weeks is the best time to apply your student visa.

This post has been edited by liew_jls: Mar 23 2009, 06:12 AM

Updating means for those FD you have been expired, so you go to the bank and give it to the bank officer to print out your latest amount money + new expiry date for your FD.


if I were you, i won't state that i'll going to apply PSW after graduate(although you are planning to do apply PSW). coz now UK gov is controlling immigration. Just state you are leaving the country after graduate and you like to learn more about british culture. Just don't mention you want to work in UK. This isn't going to help your application.

not quite true for nowadays.. as recession has hit the engineering and financial market quite badly... there's a lot companies is cutting down budget for recruiting graduates.... to get a secure job in uk for nowadays, working experience is the key to persuade company to hire you.

no, nottingham isn't expensive as you think. of coz living in city centre will be a little bit expensive if compare with place like beeston (where Nott Uni is). What i know is nottingham rent will be around £300 per month (including all bills) which you will have a very comfortable room... If you are going to study in Nott Uni, the living cost definitely will be cheaper.. Besides, Manchester and Leeds are big city, you can't compare manchester and leeds with nottingham..

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Added on April 14, 2009, 3:58 amPSW remain the same, undergraduate and postgraduate cert still able to apply for PSW.. the change is Tier 1 general (known as HSMP) require at least Master qualification in order to get enough points.

This post has been edited by liew_jls: Apr 14 2009, 03:58 AM

well, applying PSW is not that hard as you think.. like youngkies said, as long you have fulfill all the requirements, then you will get it. if you are doing a taught programme MSc course and you have enough funding in your bank then it's alright. Those two is the major thing when you are applying PSW.

No, there's quite a lot graduates are holding PSW.. My friends and I just convert Student visa to PSW... few of us did it in UK and the rest went back to KL and apply . The thing is you need to think of you want to do it in UK or KL... then you can start from the funding... the major different between application in UK and KL is the funding part and application fees.... I would say do it in UK will be more easier as the funding only require £800 ( I suppose it has change by now?)

Job market in UK? lol.. wat a good question... just like youngkies said, it's quite quiet nowadays... but since you just going to start your postgraduate, then by the time the market probably will better than now... well, you always can work some temporary jobs or part-time to cover your living cost... in uk, as long you willing to work (i mean legally).. it's quite impossible you can't survive...

btw, why don't you finish up your degree, then only worry about job hunting (when you are finishing your degree).. probably things might not be that worse..

i came across an article on The Sun website, surfing facebook will interrupt academic grads.. heavy facebook user so boys and gals, pls make sure you don't facebook too much until forget about ur assignments and thesis..

i used to addicted to facebook for a quiet some times (surf every single day, even morning, afternoon and night) , until few months ago (which my fyp started) i was too busy to login to my facebook... now i realize i had wasted so much time on facebook... i agreed, it's good to keep in touch with friends and family... but it's doesn't necessary spend so much time on it.

nottingham isn't that dangerous, only selected areas are dangerous. as long as you stay away from those black area, you will be fine. the reason a lot ppl said nottingham is a dangerous place, is because it's the 3rd/4th (not sure what is the ranking for this year) of city has the highest crime rate (especially gun crime) in UK. but these usually happen in those black area. you will see a lot ppl walking and shopping in city centre, and a lot students study in Nott Uni and NTU. so it's that bad.
i suppose you are going to stay in uni accommodation, then you are safe. the best is stay at home during night time, don't walk around alone (i mean night time - especially gals)... but day time is alright.....

never laugh on this, they are something like human robot... 'must follow this, must follow that'...

well, it's true they are bring money into the country but they need to consider others issues such as expenses and salary for those customs officer. the more tourist come into the country, the more customs officer they need (all these are money)... everything is money, there's no free lunch in this world...

besides, they need to protect their citizens.. as recession hits uk quite badly, and there's some tourists will stay in UK and work illegally.. this is another way to prevent tourist over stay in UK. don't you notice home office has high up the barriers for student visa and psw visa? now they aren't quite bother about oversea student come over and study, as they need to save some jobs opportunity for local ppl.

This post has been edited by liew_jls: May 16 2009, 06:20 PM

well, if you want a really cheap ticket.. book via their own website such as MAS/SIA etc websit... otherwise you can try lastminute.com to hunt for cheap return ticket... if you book via their website, you can't get any student ticket.. just a normal ticket... but maybe cheaper but there's quite a lot restriction..

i had the experience. I did pay 6 months upfront rent to my current landlord, but it's via a letting agency. if you are doing this (paying 6 months rent, make sure you are doing via a trustable agency and read all the document carefully)...


university accommodation? expensive mate!!

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Added on June 26, 2009, 5:27 amya, probably transferring money is the advantage. but i don't see u can't get any uk credit card from any uk bank? i did get a student UK credit card from natwest without any problem when i arrived uk as a student. in fact, they offered me the student credit card when i opened the step account.

besides, don't rely on credit card too much.. it's a hole without any end, u won't realize u spend too much until u get ur statement by the end of the month.

This post has been edited by liew_jls: Jun 26 2009, 05:27 AM

not really... my situation is bit different, as that time i was moving on my last semester. my landlord wanted us paying 6 months upfront because all of us are student (which already in UK) and he actually plan to rent to professional ppl. he was worried we couldn't pay the rent... anyway what you said is true, 6 months upfront is not normal.. usually they request for 1.5 or 2 months deposit instead of 6 months upfront. well, at least you can get back the deposit, not the upfront. gosh, that time my bank account nearly dry out when paying the 6 months upfront.. hahaha..


the credit limit was £500. i usually use it for online payment..

you are right, there's always pro and con for private and uni accommodation..

i think university accommodation means the university manage the accommodation. but u r trying to looking for those accommodation which run like university accommodation such as en-suite. but still it's consider as private accommodation.

bearbear, besides that, i suppose u have online banking? you can just transfer your money using online banking. online banking is very useful..

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Added on June 27, 2009, 8:55 pmoh btw, beware when u r using ur debit card.. make sure u have sufficient money in ur bank account. otherwise u will get a penalty fees for overdraft. and it will cost a bom for the penalty fees.

This post has been edited by liew_jls: Jun 27 2009, 08:55 PM

yeah, youngkies is right. alternatively you can straight away deposit your money into step account in future.

my goodness, you should save ur space and weight on others stuff like milo, herbs or anythings which can't get/very expensive.. duvet you can easily get at tesco/wikinson.. it's only cost 4-10 quids(depends on quality)... besides you can't survive with your thick blanket during winter time, you will freeze to dead if you are using thick blanket. especially Newcastle is lots more cold compare to london ...

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Added on June 30, 2009, 4:49 amsometimes asda will have some promotional, 3 for 2 for those branded toilet roll.. just get few packs and keep it for later. that's is what we do... coz stuff like toilet roll can be save..

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Added on June 30, 2009, 5:14 amdon't count on your consultant. always check with the officer from vfs... although sometimes they will give you some shit response but at least you will get some rough idea...

This post has been edited by liew_jls: Jun 30 2009, 05:14 AM

haha... i'm not longer studying, i have graduated last year... nope, i'm not in newcastle... but don't worry, there's quite a lot malaysian based in newcastle. in fact, there's quite a lot chinese (no matter from china, hong kong or singapore)

emirates? nope, i never fly with this airline before.. well, should be alright.. you just need to be careful when you are traveling alone.. make sure you go to those place have a lot ppl walking around and always stay alert. try go to toilet before the plane land... when someone is coming to ask you something, he is look suspicious, just tell him you don't know and leave immediately..

well. depends on what is your problem.. but if you get cold or fever (small matter), don't bother go to gp.. they will give you the same advice; sleep more and drink more water..

hahah.. if you want to minta banyak banyak pun tak boleh ni... those doctor wouldn't allow you to get more... they usually put each item into 1 prescription, then you need to pay each prescription for £7.20. last year, my hayfever was pretty bad and my GP gave me 2 prescription, one is the tablet and another is nasal spray.. was told kena bayar £14++ for my prescription.. luckily this year i don't need to go to gp for the hayfever.. hahah...