Living in the UK

Accommodation in the United Kingdom
Education system in the United Kingdom
How to learn English in the United Kingdom
Health Care services in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is the home of Europe's largest city and is embedded in the culture, vocabulary and dreams of English speakers worldwide. It is seen as an economic center for trade between Europe and North America with the United Kingdom benefiting from situation for centuries. The United Kingdom still has one of the strongest economies in the world nowadays.

UK has a population of different backgrounds, given the variety of people who have settled here over the centuries. The majority of the population is Anglo-Saxon which is predominantly German/ Scandinavian in origin. Since the middle of last century there has been significant immigration from many ex-colonies, especially the Caribbean, Pakistan and India.
The United Kingdom has a positive view on increasing the multicultural population of the country with the amount of people immigrating to the United Kingdom increasing every year.



Accommodation in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a population of around 58 million. Most of the population is concentrated in England (in large cities), in and around London, and in the Midlands around Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham.

In the larger cities there is a wide range of housing available. The architectural style is predominantly European and has also been influenced by the various English styles which have developed over the centuries. Most of the housing available in the cities is high-density living.

Outside the cities do not expect to see concentrations of high-density residential areas. The countryside is dotted with many little villages with excellent transport to regional cities. Housing in these areas generally have backyards, playing fields, parks and shopping centers nearby allow for a lifestyle envied by many people overseas.

Comfortable and spacious accommodation within one hour’s travel of city centers (or less) allows most people to enjoy the convenience of getting to work easily, plus the luxury of easy access to the English countryside and regional recreation areas on weekends.




Education system in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom education system is divided broadly into five areas:
• Preschool
• Primary School
• Secondary / Public School
• Career and Vocational Training
• University or other tertiary institutions

Children in Britain must attend school from the age of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) until they are 16. Before the start of formal schooling, many children attend nursery schools or nursery classes attached to primary schools. In addition, some parents elect to send their children to private (fee-paying) nursery schools or kindergartens. In England and Wales, many primary schools also operate an early admission policy where they admit children under 5 into what are called reception classes.

Children first attend the infants' school or department. At 7 they move to the junior school and the usual age for transfer from junior to secondary school is 11 (12 in Scotland). In some areas, however, 'first' schools take pupils aged 5 to 8, 9 or 10, and pupils within the 8 to 14 age range go to 'middle' schools.

Over 85 per cent of secondary school pupils go to comprehensive schools. These take children of all abilities, and provide a wide range of secondary education for all or most of the children in a district from the age of 11 to 16 or 18. There are also other types of secondary school. Grammar schools offer a mainly academic education for the 11 to 18-year age group. Children enter grammar schools on the basis of their abilities, first sitting the '11' plus or entrance examination. Grammar schools cater for four per cent of children in secondary education.

The independent school sector is separate from the state educational system, and caters for some seven per cent of all schoolchildren in England and four per cent in Scotland. Parents of pupils attending independent schools pay for their education, and in some cases fees can amount to several thousand pounds a year. Some pupils gain scholarships and their expenses are covered by the schools.



How to learn English in the United Kingdom
There are large number of English language programs available in the United Kingdom which cater for adults and children with varying competency levels.

For adults, there is an endless number of universities over the country that offer varying levels of English courses. For children, there are a number of programs within the school system. Schools may also have special programs to help classroom teachers with the English language needs of these children.



Health Care services in the United Kingdom
If you intend to take up residence in the United Kingdom for more than six months, you may have access to medical services similar to those enjoyed by people who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.

General Practitioners (GPs) are not, however, obliged to accept anyone as a National Health Service patient, and will offer only private treatment if they believe the patient has come to the United Kingdom specifically for the purpose of receiving medical care. Once registered with the NHS, foreign patients are entitled to receive treatment and prescriptions from GPs, dentists and opticians in the same way and at the same price as other NHS patients.

There is also an extensive private health system, for those wishing to pay an additional fee to receive extra benefits for optical, physiotherapy and dental treatment when they use private health care services.