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If you do need a visa to study in the UK, there are a number of different types available. You can find out more here: http://www.educationuk.org/Article/Applying-for-a-student-visa

If you don’t want your UK study experience to end just yet, you may need to extend your student visa. You’ll need to pass the points-based assessment to do this, gaining points for proving you have a place on a UK course and enough money to pay fees and everyday living costs.

UK life is an incredible mix of international cultures and contemporary thinking, held together by a strong sense of identity and tradition. Study in the UK and you’ll find an array of exciting experiences to discover - music, celebrations, accents, people to meet, places to visit – the list is endless. As the UK is such a cosmopolitan society you’ll find that many UK customs are already familiar to you – so you’ll settle in faster than you think.

Public holidays are a big part of UK culture. When they come along everyone is determined to make the most of it - whether it's a snow fight at Christmas, a carnival in May or ice-cream on the beach in August. You'll also find plenty of traditional UK celebrations to enjoy on bank holidays and weekends all year round.

Scholarships, grants, bursaries and financial awards help to support students financially through their studies. There are many scholarships available for international students to study in the UK. On the Education UK website, you can search through over 3000 scholarships using the ‘Search’ tool. This is on the top right hand side of the website. There are three tabs – ‘Courses’, Institutions’ and ‘Scholarships. Select the ‘Scholarships’ tab and see what you can find. This tool is not a fully comprehensive list of all the UK scholarships available, but it is a good place to start. You can also look on the websites for the schools, colleges and universities you are interested in, plus perhaps organisations in your country offer scholarship schemes too. Have a look on the internet to see what schemes operate in your country.

The UK offers a great value education. In terms of living costs and course fees, the UK compares favourably with other countries. It's also worth bearing in mind that most UK degree courses are not as long as those in other countries, which means you’ll be committing less time and money. It normally takes three years to complete an honours degree in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, an honours degree course usually lasts four years. You can get an idea of course costs here: http://www.educationuk.org/Applications/scholarships-for-uk-study/uk-course-fees-for-international-students To find out more about overall costs and budget planning, visit http://www.educationuk.org/Applications/scholarships-for-uk-study/Budget-planning-in-the-UK The International Student Calculator is also a really useful budgeting tool: http://international.studentcalculator.org.uk

There may be a lot to think about when you travel to the UK – from packing to travel insurance - but a little forward planning is always a great idea. We’ve put together some travel advice to make sure your journey is easy and lots of fun.

Getting to the UK is easier than you think. There are many direct international flights to airports throughout the UK regions. If you are coming to the UK from Europe, you could also sail into one of the major ports, or even arrive by train through the Channel Tunnel.

One of the best things about studying in the UK is the student discounts. You can live inexpensively in the UK, but your money goes a lot further when you’re an international student. You’ll find student discounts on everything from books, music and fashion to movies and eating out.

Managing your money when you study in the UK is easier with a UK bank account. You’ll find plenty of accounts to suit your needs as an international student and advice to keep control of your finances.