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Why should I worry about banking?

As a student, money is often in short supply. Any way that you can make it stretch that bit further is a good thing and the motto for many is "every little helps". One easy way to help your finances is through the way that you choose to do banking.

The simple process of choosing where to place your savings can save you a surprising amount of money, both in the short and long term. What's more, unlike some money saving tactics, you don't have to sacrifice anything other than a little time to research the best deals.

What options do I have?

In terms of basic everyday current accounts, there isn't a huge amount of difference between the different banks. One thing to look out for is that many of them offer special free gifts for students. Whilst some of these are merely gimmicks, some are really useful and can save you loads of money.

Savings accounts are the ones that you really should spend a bit of time researching. There are of course your standard savings accounts, but, more often than not, the best option is an ISA.

The UK's education sector is extremely welcoming to foreign students, with universities and colleges across the country boasting a healthy proportion of students from overseas. Whether students are looking to come to the UK to study for the first time, or are looking to continue with current or previous studies, there is a wide variety of options open to those from overseas. Here, we take a look at a small number of these options, looking at both academic and vocational opportunities.

Law conversion courses

The choice to work on a law conversion course is a popular one for graduates. While not everybody is keen to enter the world of law at undergraduate level, it often appears as a far more attractive option post-graduation.

The great news is that students are accepted on to law conversion courses from a variety of subjects. Typically the candidate will have experience of study in an area which exemplifies a strong grasp of the English language and good argumentative skills. Evidence of elective courses in legal matters will be to your advantage but will by no means be seen as necessary.

Living frugally isn't something that most of us are accustomed to, as we want to enjoy life as much as possible. Earning just enough to cover the cost of living is no fun, but we all want to have a bit of money to put aside for fun, for entertainment, and, most importantly, for our future!

If you plan on buying a new car, a house, or investing in something that will pay off in the future, you can start saving money today. Here are a few simple ways that you can save a bit every day, and that money will go towards your future investments:

Today's guest post is written by David Gross who is the managing director of InterGreater, a London based digital consultancy. In this post, David gives some insight into why foreign students are well-suited to a career online and, in particular, ‘SEO'.

What is SEO and why is it important?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. In the simplest terms, this is the art of helping websites rank as highly as possible for ‘natural listings' on search engines. To help explain what natural listings are, here is an example:

The United Arab Emirates is a fascinating area to visit, proudly proclaiming its glamorous cities and spending culture whilst retaining a deep sense of Bedouin heritage and Muslim traditions. Though the federation states' reputation is based mainly on the deluxe hotels of Dubai and the big business of Abu Dhabi, as a student you can still get more for your money with cheaper airfares, free short-term visas and plenty of hostels for those on a budget. With this in mind, here are a few tips on how to plan your UAE trip.

As far as entry requirements go, your standard, 30-day tourist visa is fairly straightforward for UK citizens and free, though these can also be extended for another 30 days for a fee. If you decide to look for employment, probationary, 3-month visas are available once you're here but make sure you don't breach any deadlines to avoid hefty fines. If you are of a different nationality it is best to check what the restrictions are before you travel, for example many will not have to apply for a visa in advance but others will, dependent upon which part of the world you are from. Find out more about the restrictions here.