SHOPPINGS & DISCOUNT CARDS

There are 3 main competitions in the market for shopping daily use or vegetables, fruits medicines, flour etc any thing you require. It’s more like big stores in Pakistan like METRO for example.
ASDA

TESCO
Morrison.
You can also shop online from these stores. They will drop things on your door step
I have seen students preferring ASDA coz it’s cheapest in the above. I find more Varity of Hilal Meat in ASDA as compared to other two stores. It does not mean they do not have Hilal meat (it’s my personal opinion).

NUS card

Discount card for students for shopping purpose you can apply online
http://cards.nus.org.uk/buy/default.aspx

Traveling

Although you will be getting some favor from university like free bus service around but for Cheap traveling else where you can have
Oyster card buses and tubes
Web sites:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/2732.aspx

You must go to your university student center and ask them openly if they have some free bus services for students or any facility or discount cards or any thing. Do not feel shy this is not your country you are new to the culture you need to know.

MOBILES

There are two ways in uk for using mobile

1. "Pay as you go" this means like pre paied cards in pakistan
2. Contarct where you buy mobiles from the company who sells you your desired mobile on a contract of one year or two year with min cradit (of 10 or 20 pound or so on) per month. can say something like post paid system in Pakistan

There are alot of mobile services in pakistan which are being used. big question is which mobile service to use.
You can order which ever service you like online they will drop free sim at your door step.
here I will disscuss 2 services

3-G sim and
LEBARA sim

Buy 3-G sim
and mobil with window configuration
to install skype (you need to have a skype account)
and you can use free skype in uk or in pakistan plus msn is also free with 3-G sim utility.
http://www.three.co.uk/Home

Lebara sim is one of the service used alot to call Pakistan. 9p per min and 10P message in or out of UK
http://www.lebara-mobile.co.uk/en/

But you can always compare the plans and services
http://www.compareplans.co.uk/

LOOKING FOR JOBS

If you are thinking of doing part time job as usually students do you need to have NIN in UK to work.
You have to call on the following number tell them you are a new student; want to do job so need NIN. They will ask you few questions like your address etc they will send you a form you have to fill it and resend them
Note: Make sure you spell your name and address (postal code) right.

Ph# 08456043719
Note the reference number they will give you, this is how they will locate you afterwards if required.

You have to search for jobs on Web sites or through any reference if you have
Web site: http://www.justjobs4students.co.uk/
http://www.e4s.co.uk/
http://www.student-jobs.co.uk/
Or Google for the jobs

Your CVs should be prepared before you come to UK (it’s recommended)
Plus you should know how to make a CV cover.
Reference: if you can locate any other wise its okay

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

There is one thing I want to say when you are here in UK don’t feel shy telling people you are Pakistani I have come across many people who told me “this word Pakistan is a hindrance in your way”. I listened them and you will too but I shut them up I don’t know what will you do? But if you don’t believe in your self in what you are where you are from then there is no difference in you and some one who do not have a country. When you will meet the students who don’t have their own countries and are traveling on the pass ports of the other countries you will come to know what it feels like, what it means when you will say “I AM FROM ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN” your own country. Which nations in the world did not have tough times, so do we. Than what we are trying we will rise. This does not mean to disown the one who gave you your ID, this confidence that you are on your way to explore the world. Don’t forget you are traveling under this Green Flag. Nothing is wrong with Pakistan it wrong with the one who has problem taking Pakistan’s name.
Respect your Green Pass Port respect yourself. There is nothing more important than this word Pakistan when you will come here. Keep your heads high there is nothing we should feel shame of. We are not shame full for the corrupt acts of others we are answerable for ourselves for Pakistan. We have a bright and proud history why to feel shameful. We are the generation protected by the martyrs of 47, 65 and so on and there is more to come from you me all of us. They did not give their lives so we are sitting in the corner whispering the word Pakistan.

DON’T DISGRACE PAKISTAN
DON’T DO JOKE WITH THE MARTYRS OF 1947

ACCOMMODATION

You need to confirm where university/college is offering you to stay
Is this be university owned or in the private sector?
University usually provide
University Hall (en suite bathrooms are in built)
University Hall (not en suite)
University house or flat
Private house or flat
Is the accommodation is out side the university how far is it from the university?
Is there any bus service if available is it free or not? And if free from where you will get the free card?
Is the place they are offering you is safe and warm or not (this point is very vital for female students coming from Pakistan)
Does place have internet access usually it does but you must have some Place which have internet access
Usually the contract of accommodation is for 6 months so make sure you tell them you are staying in summers even if you are not in case you need it.

Note for female students: For female students it is better to go for university halls its more like our hostel system in Pakistan. University flats or houses are the place where boys and girls live together. Nothing to worry about the places are fully secured the point of mentioning is if you once get the place it’s very tough you can change it than other point is what if you get house mates who love partying? Again the issue is not security it is the noise you can not avoid and will not be able to study properly.
Usually the halls have the facility of laundry in them while if you have houses or flats you need to go the halls to use the washing facilities. This rule is not strict for every place.

LANDING IN ENGLAND

You must know who will be picking you up. It’s not enough that university/college confirmed and you believe them
You must have Email confirmation
Keep the printed copy of this confirmation letter (make a file of few important things in your shoulder bag having your important information that you may require)
When you are landing on the air port you must have address of your university and accommodation office make sure to note the postal codes of the address they are very important in UK plus be careful and make sure you have 24 hour phone number of university reception.
If in case they do not appear go to or ask for some shop on the air port from where you can buy travelers phone card 5 pound card will be more than enough call university reception ask for direction. If they do not help you than as you are having your university accommodation addresses find/ ask for help desks go to the desk ask them you want taxi, they are very safe way of traveling in UK. Help desk will guide you to go to taxi desk from where you can take taxi.
Take taxi give him your university accommodation address, don’t worry about money coz make sure you are getting it from your university they have to compensate for your lose coz they are responsible for what they have not done.
Claim/Demand the money in case they don’t pick you up and you spend your money showing them the confirmation letter (email copy) keep the taxi receipt demand it from taxi guy, note the taxi number(do not feel panicked feel confident and don’t worry UK security is dependable if you are lost lolz)
When ever on what ever point you feel you don’t understand go to near by reception or stop near by police man do not hesitate don’t feel shy ask them engage them until you know what you want to know.
Welcome to the new world where you have to explore a lot, throw this shyness out of your plan before landing specially the female traveling for the first time.

ADMISSION IN UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE

While you are deciding to taking admission in any university or college in UK make sure the following things
What is the University Ranking?
Is your College Registered?
Is this college or university is Present on UK Home office web site?
And if so what is her rating for (example A or A+)
Who is the awarding body?
And if some college claims some university to be the awarding body call or Email the said university for confirmation
For the above information you can Google the information
Helpful website: http://www.britishcouncil.org/pakistan.htm