becoming a student...questions

Hello, I am a 37 yr old American who has been in the UK as a visitor since late last year.  Recently someone suggested that, as I'm interested in various aspects of British history, that I try to enroll as a student here and then get a student visa...

My main questions:
*what would the first step in this process be? (besides choosing a school, as I already have an idea...)
*how much does it cost to enroll full time as a foreign student?
*are adult students as common in the UK as in the US?

and any general advice you can provide as I begin researching this option...

I will try and help since I'm a student here now at the Univ of Leeds

As a masters student, there are ppl of all ages, just out of school or mid career in the program.

To start, get some references from work or recent academics for the application. Mine required 2 and that took over a month to get together.  Then, get the application and any scholarships you can apply for and look them over. Apply for any and all scholarships you can!

Tuition here cost over 8000 pounds for my program for 1yr (that's the length of my program).  I have spent more than that on everyday costs, but I am also living w/ my british fiance, so that helps save money. I took out a Stafford loan for the whole of the tuition, that was another fun process. There's more about that in the student section.

Good luck!

references from work?  can they be from something mundane? as my last jobs have all been tourism related retail in the States and I've been unemployed since mid September '05! 
recent academics?!? I've been out of school since 1986!

I would be what is called a Bachelor of Arts student in the states...

Any and all advice on scholarships and loans greatly appreciated as there is no way I can even come close to covering that sort of tuition! even though I have a friend I can live with in the area...

Thanks pittpanther!

Hi. I'm a 38 year old History student at StAndrews University.

If you have an idea on schools (and you should think about more than one) contact them right away. Application deadlines are coming up soon/already past. You might end up waiting for next year. But contact them and find out. hey are a little more flexible about such things here than in the US it seems. Find people you are interested in working with and write to them.

Where were you thinking about applying? What are you interested in studying? (I'm a history post-grad so don't worry about frightening me with specifics  )

They may have some suggestions for funding. Ask. My department has some departmental awards. Unfortunately, there's not as much money in history as in the sciences, but there is a little. Also unfortunately, many of the awards here are for UK or EU citizens only. Which means your options are narrowed down. But my department realized that and steered me to what was available.

Here (and I think StA is a little more expensive - prince tax, etc...) a year is about 10,000 pounds. Many awards are for home fees, which is about 3000. Not enough to cover things, but 3000 pounds s nothing to sneeze at. There are several threads here that discuss part-time fees which are sometimes less.

I am the oldest person in my class of about 15. But nobody seems to think it is strange or anything. Gives me certain advantages. It has been a little weird making friends. I have more in common with the faculty than with most of the students, but being mates with the person grading your work is a little odd.

Get references from whoever can say you are a hard-working intelligent person. If you end up waiting for next year to apply you might consider taking a community college course, night school or something, just to get a recent record and a teacher who can vouch for you. They seem to be more aware of students coming in who have been out for a while than in the US. In fact, I had faculty tell me they preferred students who had a little worldly experience.

I've got to go to class now. I'll check back this evening if you have more questions.

First of all you need to chose a university and look into the entrance requirements.  You probaly qualify as a mature student but as David says the overseas rate of fees is high. I think the figures he quotes would be true of most universities.  Any idea which university you want to go to? Whereabouts are you? Also, although the student visa allows you to work part time do you have a plan of how you will support yourself while studying?

I can tell you overseas fees at the uni I'm applying to (Manchester Met) are just under £8000 per year (for three years if you're going for a BA).  It's tough (almost impossible for an American) for an undergrad international student to get grants or scholarships, so if you don't have that kind of cash saved up, you'd have to finance your degree through loans.  With money for living expenses and such, you're looking at at least $80,000 for a 3 year course. Good luck!

$80,000 for a 3 year course. Good luck!

Ouch!

I am considering studying at University of Leicester (or another school in that area) as that is where I know I have a place to stay!

as for field of study, something related to history and/or anthropology/archaeology...I'm not sure how specialised you can get in undergrad schools here
the U of Leics website lists undergrad internat yrly fees at £6750 if I'm reading the page correctly, I was a little confused at the way they structured it

as for working part-time/supporting myself...I think I read that you can work up to 20 hrs/wk on a student visa? is that right?

David is your degree specialised in History? what is your actual area of interest/expertise?

as for working part-time/supporting myself...I think I read that you can work up to 20 hrs/wk on a student visa? is that right?

Yes, that's right- student visa holders can also work full time during term breaks. But to get the visa you have to prove you have enough money to cover your fees and living expenses *without* working at all.  If you already have a place to stay, that can reduce the amount of living expenses money you'd be expected to have for the visa if you can provide documentation that you're allowed to live there

oh dear...well that could be the kicker right there as having been out of work since mid September my savings are not great
thanks for the heads up

oh dear...well that could be the kicker right there as having been out of work since mid September my savings are not great
thanks for the heads up

all depends on whether you're willing to take out loans.  I'm just graduating with my BA this semester and I'm absolutely broke- if I end up going to the UK for grad school I'll be taking out about $30K in student loans to pay for everything.  But since a master's degree only takes one year in the UK, it's actually only a little bit more than the amount that I would borrow to get the same degree in the US over two years. 

Undergrad is trickier, because it's so expensive, but my parents and I took out about $90K in loans for my entire undergrad degree- expensive as all hell (pricey out of state school), but it was worth it to me (thank god I only owe $15K of it- my parents are paying off the rest.)

All that blather just to say you really have to decide whether being in England for 3 years is worth the huge price tag- if it is, then student loans will enable you to fully fund your studies.

well seeing as I want to be here for the rest of my life, that last bit is not a consideration! LOL
and because of my particular area of interest/planned study (British history pre-20th century), it only makes sense for me to do it here...

I have not found out yet how long the degree course would last but from what I've read I think the "average" undergrad degree takes 3 yrs here (?)...and at the fee my uni of "interest" charges that comes out to £20,250 (roughly $40K I think)

I don't know the first thing about loans, scholarships, other aspects of financing study but have someone who should be able to help me figure that stuff out, and advise me on whether or not it is feasible

thanks again

I am considering studying at University of Leicester (or another school in that area) as that is where I know I have a place to stay!

The University of Nottingham is very good for history and archaeology degrees.

thanks for the tip HME

does anyone know if a school not classified as a university would have a place for foreign students? I was told it might actually be much more affordable.
thanks

thanks for the tip HME

does anyone know if a school not classified as a university would have a place for foreign students? I was told it might actually be much more affordable.
thanks

if you need loans to pay for your education, they'll have to be US ones, and they'll only loan on a school that meets their criterion.