London is a reasonably priced city offering good quality affordable living and abundant accommodation. Students will need of £800 - £1000 a month to cover living expenses. This includes accommodation, food and transportation. This may vary depending on your budget for rent, food, transport and leisure activities.

No. If you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of study and living expenses and if you are able to demonstrate your bonafide student status, you should have no difficulty in obtaining a student visa.

Students are permitted to work as stamped in your visa and up to 40 hours per week during the vacation period. The School is not responsible for finding any type of student employment. Many international students work part time in the retail, tourism and hospitality industries. However, as work cannot be guaranteed it should be viewed as a supplementary source of funds only and cannot be used to cover tuition or living costs.

Normally students are required to pay a deposit prior to enrolment. Your offer letter will mention the details as regards to the payment of this deposit. Fee deposits should be paid by way of Bankers draft payable to "Buckingham College of London"

Students will not be allowed to defer or change the course in London, unless they have a confirmation from the school prior to the arrival in London. All changes additional requirements should be clarified before an application is made.

Failure to pay the student account balance will result in one or more of the following:
-   Pre-registered classes will be subject to cancellation
-   A tuition hold will be placed on the account, preventing transcripts from being issued
-   Grade information will be restricted
-   Late fees will be assessed (TMS charges late fees as well for late payments)
-   Computer use will be restricted
-   Future class registration will be restricted

Buckingham College has more than 75 computers on campus. They are located in the library and at computer stations located throughout campus. The College provides email accounts and storage space for work to all students, free of charge. All new students are instructed on how to access and maintain their email accounts and information.

We advise our students that the cost of living for one year is approximately £6,000 to £9,000. This includes accommodation, travel and exam fees.
These prices are an example:
Travel : As a student you will get discounted travel on London buses and the underground train system so (depending where you live) your month travel card will cost about £20 to £35.
Food : You would expect to pay about £20 / £30 per week on food for one person.
Exams : Membership fees and exam entry fees for the first year are about £300.
Books : There is a recommended reading list for students. Tutors may also suggest additional books which may be helpful. We would suggest budgeting about £100 to £300. You also must buy your own stationery (pens, paper, etc).
Accommodation : Students accommodation costs about £75/week. We can arrange host family accommodation for you at a cost of £100 per week. Many of our students will do this as a short-term option and then arrange to share accommodation with fellow students (this usually works out a cheaper).

Yes. If you have already been studying here you can apply for an extension of stay for further studies in the UK provided you are enrolled on a full-time course with the college and meet the UKBA criteria.

Your spouse and any of your children under 18 may be able to apply to accompany you during your studies provided you can maintain and accommodate them adequately without recourse to public funds and if you are enrolled for any course in NQF level 6 & above or a Foundation Degree of a University.

Your spouse may be allowed to work if you were granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for 12 months or more and you are studying NQF level 6 or above course. You must check the terms of your spouse's Visa carefully as this may differ.

General Information about the UK
The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Greater London covers an area of over 600 square miles and has an ever-growing population, currently over 8 million people. Throughout it's history, Britain's own culture has been enriched by many other nationalities. London, especially, is home to many different nationalities which provides a fascinating variety of culture, food and entertainment.

Climate : The UK has a very varied climate. November to March is typically cold and wet with the possibility of snow on higher ground. Average temperatures are between 0º and 10º C (50º F). The temperature in summer (July and August) can reach up to 32º C (90º F). More detailed information is available on the BBC (the national news service) www.bbc.co.uk/weather

Clothing : Whatever the time of year, it is best to have warm clothing with you. During the winter months, a warm waterproof coat is essential.

Working/Opening Hours : Supermarkets are open from 8:30 to 20:00 throughout the week and usually 10:00 to 17:00 on Sundays. Some supermarkets in cities are now open 24 hours a day. In major cities such as London, there are many specialist shops selling a wide variety of food so you may still be able to cook up your favourite meal!

Shops are generally open from 9:00 to 17:30 (Monday to Saturday) with some shops opening later on certain days or open for a few hours on Sunday.
Banks open from 9:30 to 5:30 (some Banks are opening on Saturday).

Public Holidays : There are 8 public holidays when colleges, offices and most shops will be closed.
New Year's Day - 1st January.
Good Friday and Easter Monday - this can occur between mid-March and the end of April.
Early May Bank Holiday - first Monday in May.
Spring Bank Holiday - last Monday in May.
Summer Bank Holiday - last Monday in August.
Christmas Day - 25th December.
Boxing Day - 26th December.

Health : If you are a long-term student (12 months or more), it is advisable for you to register with a local Doctor. We can provide contact details for doctors in your area. You will need to contact the doctor to see if they are accepting new patients and you will normally need to have an appointment to provide basic information about your medical history. You can get more information from the Department of Health:
Website: www.doh.gov.uk/overseasvisitors
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7210 4850

Public Transport : In London there is an extensive public transport system - trains, buses, underground trains and light railway. Public transport is much cheaper.
The Greater London area is divided into six travel zones. Zone 1 covers the main business and shopping districts in the centre of London. The College is located in Zone 2. This may sound complex but members of the college administration team will be happy to explain how the travel system works.
You can buy daily, weekly and monthly travel cards which either gives you access to the buses or to both buses and underground trains. For month travel cards, you will need a photo card and you can also apply for student discount rates.
Useful information about public transport in London can be found on www.londontransport.co.uk andwww.thetube.com
Outside of London public transport varies from area to area. Most major towns and cities are linked by railway. Cities will have regular bus services but smaller towns may not. Internal flights also operate between major cities.

Social Customs and Leisure : British people are generally reserved and value their privacy. It is customary to shake hands when meeting someone for the first time, whether male or female. Other physical contact is generally avoided with anyone other than family and close friends.
Good manners ("please" and "thank you") and personal hygiene are valued very highly. With the wide variety of cultures in Britain, please use your common sense and try to respect all beliefs and customs.
Smoking is generally allowed in public places but restaurants and other public buildings may not allow it. Please respect this and refrain from smoking. In London there is a wide range of activities available to suit all budgets, you can:
- experience food, music and entertainment from many countries;
- see a variety of sports in the city's large arenas (which also host musical events);
- enjoy a range of world famous "West End" shows;
- visit museums, art galleries and exhibitions to suit all tastes;