So, do all British students really play cricket and "football" (soccer to you)? Must you order a "bitter" to fit in? And what will your room be like over there? In this section we will examine what it's like to be on a UK campus and what resources will typically be available to you.

Dormitory Amenities

Although British universities and colleges are some of the most renowned, they are also some of the oldest.  What this means for you is that the student residences of many institutions may not be as technologically equipped as you are used to.  Many "dorm rooms" may not be equipped with Internet access or even a telephone jack. Many of the older institutions have just recently wired their student residences with telephone jacks. In some of their colleges, you still may have to use the phone in the lobby or staircase of the hall.

However, these are not things to get too upset about.  Virtually every institution has public, accessible computers for their students to use. British students are still primarily assessed on exams that are handwritten at the end of the year. Handwriting their assignments throughout the year helps students to prepare for their final exams. Check with your institution on what is standard protocol. Although this is very different from what you may have experienced in the States, it isn't something to worry about. This is all part of your experience and you, like all the local students, will be able to adapt.

Student Unions

The National Union of Students (NUS) is a national body representing the interests of all students in the UK. All universities and most of the larger community colleges have a student union of which you are automatically a member. Membership gives you access to discounts on travel, entertainment, books and many other things. After the first week of term, you will probably find that most of the entertainment programs and social activities available at your university or college are arranged by the student union. You will often find that there will be a union building somewhere on the campus which has restaurants, bars, shops, and a variety of other facilities, all run by the student union.

Freshers' Week

During the first week of a new term or semester, and after any orientation program which has been arranged specifically for international students, there will often be a program of social events for new students which is usually referred to as the freshers' fair or freshers' week. Freshers' week provides you with the opportunity to find out what sport and social activities are available at the institution and it is also a good time to start meeting people and making friends. Even if you aren't a first year student, we recommend attending freshers' week activities.