• British Council
  • The GREAT campaign logo - name in front of Union Jack flag

Study UK: Prepare to Study and Live in the UK

4.9 (279 reviews)

Be prepared for university study in the UK by familiarising yourself with UK culture and higher education.

72,335 enrolled on this course

3 happy students walking and talking on a footpath.

  • Duration

    4 weeks

  • Weekly study

    3 hours

  • Languages

    English, Italiano, Español, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Italiano, Español

  • 100% online

    How it works

  • Digital upgrade

    Free
Overview
Syllabus
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What's included
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Understand how to make the most of life and university study in the UK.

The prestige of a UK university education attracts students from all over the world. However, research shows that transition to UK study is not always easy. Many feel challenged by an unfamiliar educational system, cultural differences, and working in a different language.

This course will give you all the help you need to study and thrive in the UK. You’ll become familiar with studying in English and how higher education courses are structured, gaining a clear understanding of what to expect. You’ll also develop self-study skills, whilst getting a taste of life in the UK.

Skip to 0 minutes and 6 seconds You may have had the experience of getting on an aeroplane, and you arrive in a new country, and you’ve got the culture shock of a whole new environment.

Skip to 0 minutes and 16 seconds Universities have teams who offer advice and support to all the students who need it, or who want it.

Skip to 0 minutes and 28 seconds Lectures are a really key part of learning, and I’m starting to understand that if I go in prepared, I come out way more informed.

Skip to 0 minutes and 40 seconds Being able to speak English well, will be a big part of your success as an international student.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Making a start

    • Introduction to Week 1

      Welcome to Prepare to Study and Live in the UK! Start by learning about the British Council before meeting your Course Leaders Keyan Zhu and Tess Read.

    • Foundations for learning

      UK university education might be different to the study experiences you’ve had so far. Let’s explore what those differences might be.

    • Academic reading

      Most university courses will require you to read extensively. Find out more about this key skill and learn some tips to perform it more effectively.

    • Moving to a new culture

      Living in a new country is full of exciting opportunities, but it’s normal to experience some level of culture shock while you adjust. Discover ways to keep yourself grounded through this period of change.

    • Reflection

      Review the week’s learning to help you remember everything that has been covered, before testing yourself with a quick quiz.

  • Week 2

    Building knowledge

    • Introduction to Week 2

      Let's take a look at what we will learn this week.

    • Thinking critically

      Education at degree level in the UK requires a lot of critical thinking. Find out what this involves and how to use it in your lectures – and beyond.

    • Academic writing

      Learn some of the key elements of academic writing, a formal style of written English used in university work.

    • Planning for your stay

      Discover the process of booking accommodation and get information about national travel that will help you plan your journey from the airport to your university city.

    • Budgeting

      Living costs are always an important consideration for any student. We take a look at what you can expect to pay for common products and services.

    • Reflection

      Find out about some useful apps that are particularly relevant to this Week's topics, watch this Week’s round up and reflect on your learning.

  • Week 3

    Developing confidence

    • Welcome to Week 3

      Welcome to Week 3. This week we will focus on some of broader aspects of university life as well as strengthening your knowledge of the UK, so you’ll feel confident getting out and about.

    • Assessment methods

      Degree courses in the UK often use a variety of assessment methods that help teach key skills for your future career. Find out what to expect and learn techniques for success.

    • Time management

      A lot of UK university life is self-guided, so we explore ways you can balance your study time with your health, wellbeing and practical tasks.

    • Daily life

      Gain a better understanding of everyday life in the UK, including the climate, national festivals and social culture.

    • Travelling locally

      Public transport is a great way to get around in your university city. We give insights into the options, how to buy tickets and where to find the scheduled services.

    • Review and reflect

      Find out about some useful apps that are particularly relevant to this Week's topics, watch this Week’s round up and reflect on your learning.

  • Week 4

    Getting settled

    • Welcome to Week 4

      We’ll cover some important details about banking and health before finishing with tips for study, leisure and work.

    • Enhancing your learning

      Make the most of your taught sessions with tips on the best ways to interact and make notes.

    • Libraries

      Discover the wide range of resources and help available in your university library, with details on how to use the catalogue effectively.

    • Leisure and work

      Studying in the UK is about much more than academic work. Learn how to live on a budget, improve your fitness and find a student job.

    • Reflection

      Reflect on what you have learnt.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate an understanding of UK academic culture and the engagement expected of you
  • Explore the way teaching and learning is organised in UK higher education and its key terminology
  • Reflect on the language knowledge and academic skills you need to achieve success
  • Assess the resources that are available to you to support your learning
  • Develop the confidence you need to feel prepared for study in the UK

Who is the course for?

This course would be of immense benefit to international students who have been accepted to study at a UK university.

Who will you learn with?

Tess Read

Tess Read has supported thousands of international students, is a career consultant at the Russell Group Exeter University working directly with students and runs a programme of career interventions.

Erica Pattison

Erica works for When in Culture who create content that helps international learners from many cultures grow within a new one; building confidence, connection, cultural insight, and a global mindset.

Sayra Begum

Sayra is a First-Class Business Management graduate from LSBU, former international student, and IELTS instructor passionate about helping students prepare for studying and living in the UK

Sue Brown

As Head of Customer Enablement at When in Culture, Sue helps create engaging learning experiences that support learners prepare for life and study in the UK, wherever they are on their journey.

Eva Litso

Eva is a former international student in the UK, currently helping international students with immigration matters at the University of Oxford. She also creates educational content on social media.

Who developed the course?

British Council

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million people overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

GREAT Campaign

The GREAT campaign showcases all four corners of our nation to inspire the world and encourage people to visit, do business, invest and study in the UK.

What's included?

British Council are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible

    • Learning on FutureLearn

    Your learning, your rules

    • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
    • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
    • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

    Join a global classroom

    • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
    • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
    • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

    Map your progress

    • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
    • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
    • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

    Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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