Submitted by Foreign Students on Thu 03/03/11
Most people do their food shopping at supermarkets in Britain. The main ones are Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and The Co-Operative. For a slightly higher quality food (though it is more expensive) there is also Waitrose and Marks and Spencer.
To find the cheapest place to buy your food and drink, use this useful website.
Submitted by Foreign Students on Thu 03/03/11
There are three ways to get the books you need for your course. The first is to simply buy them - Foyles is one of the biggest book shops in the UK and should have anything you are looking for at a good price. The second is to get your books out from the university library.
However, you probably won't be able to keep any book for longer than a few weeks and will not be able write notes in them. The third option is really good for very expensive books that you need for the whole year. At the Acadreamia website, you can rent any book for a whole year and it is much cheaper than buying it.
Submitted by Foreign Students on Thu 03/03/11
There are two types of mobile phone deal you can get in the UK. The first is a contract. This is where you get a free phone handset (usually) but then pay a monthly fee (usually between £15-£35) for around 12-24 months. For this you get a set number of call minutes, texts and internet minutes for your phone.
The second is pay as you go. For this you will need a mobile phone that is not currently on a contract, and you simply buy a sim card for it. Then you pre-pay for call minutes and texts without having to be locked into any contract. This is the best option if you don't use your phone much, as you will only pay for what you use.
To work out what is the best type of phone deal for you, use this great tool that allows you to search for the perfect phone and contract based on your requirements, and can save you up to 40% off the price.
Submitted by Foreign Students on Thu 03/03/11
The main ones are Orange, O2, Vodafone, T-mobile and 3. No single one is better than the others but you should research to find the one that suits you best.
Submitted by Foreign Students on Thu 03/03/11
Most new mobile phones will work in the UK with your current provider. However, if you are using a phone provider from your home country in the UK then it will get very expensive as every call you make or text you send will be charged at international rates. It is much much cheaper and easier to simply get a new contract or pay as you go provider for your stay in the UK.
