Thinking of studying in the UK?Here is a personal overview of college life.

First year, for any international student I think is a complete surprise.

Campus life is different and at most times is about your choice of doing things your chosen way. No one stops you. No parents, no family. And if you don't know how to cook that can end more expensive for you,haha.

You suddenly wake up thinking everything is a whole long party.- which is, is just that in between those parties you have to sort your life up- deadlines, exams, reading lists, projects, sleep, future and any other thing- that's applicable for someone wanting a decent degree, because with a pass and a third class degree anyone can pass, there's no need for too much struggle.

The struggle comes afterwards when they get no jobs with that. Emotionally- it tends to be a roller coaster, you get super happy and excited, you're away, making the best of it, new friends, hobbies, societies, parties and on the other side you don't know sometimes how to handle studying after a night out, waking up for a 9am with your lessons all done,you get homesick, mum's food was the best, you get friendships that not all time can end right for you.

Drugs are a question of personal choice- you see people in a campus dying for overdosing with mdma, and who knows what else right in the first freshers week, drama becomes a friend if you don't know how to keep your mouth shut or if again you get into the wrong group, but again, those can be lessons for everyone. But emotionally it is quite exhausting, at most time you find comfort with the family, it's very important to have someone understanding to talk to.

Moneywise, well, that's the hard part. Some people like in my case, don't work the first year, which in my opinion is a complete mistake. My parents put me on a budget- 100 pounds a week apart from the rent that was paid termly and it came down to 3000 a year which was the cheapest on campus, but the funniest and the best environment at times and I wouldn't have trade it for the world. 100 pounds for a first year was more than enough, but again- not enough for someone that apart from school wants to go out as well, club twice a month maybe even more because it's uni, campus prices are more expensive than town ones here, I get London prices in campus which is 2x the price in any other supermarket.

So I'd say first term have it your way because it's the best experience. But try to find a job in the second- nothing major, from 15 hours a week you can get a nicely 120 pounds extra into your pocket every week. The average shopping basket is about 35-40£ a week if you're really the kind of person that cooks even if pasta is all you know-that still does it fine, for someone that gets relatively quality stuff 50£ should cover a whole week of your fridge, sometimes even a bit more.

Second year becomes a struggle

Private accommodation-no more campus, monthly rent which is more expensive, because you pay bills too

You pay for transport as well and these add up to your money-waste so as I said job is useful as long as you keep your budgeting on track- always set goals on spending- it has done it for me.

From a job you can earn starting from 70£ a week to 300 a week like I do. But that depends on hours on where you work and so on. What I'm trying to say is that there needs to be education on how to spend the money. Because I learnt that the hard way. Because I didn't know when to stop and when I didn't really need some things.

Banking is important too. You'll need correct guidance for that , adjusted to your personal needs.

Moreover, It's important to think about your future even from the very first year because time flies. Get involved as much as possible in as many projects as you can, go abroad with work and travel for summers, don't waste the time.

it's most of the times a struggle because finances can become problems mid-uni. Books cost money, materials cost money, so it's important to learn to keep everything on a budget. Because all students are broke, unless they're some wealthy, but those can be put on budgets as well.

Stress is terrible, but I think that focus and determination are key in getting through with it.

Last but not least i suggest Not being left alone.By that i mean don't get isolated unless it is to study, And always ask for advice, because as you see you will need plenty