Going to the UK for pursuing Automobile engineering-tips, advice and gyan

Thad E Ginathom · 2nd July 2009, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdiatech

Oh no intention to brag about my life there , past the stage ! lol

My only intention was to laugh at myself; I hope you did not think I was aiming at you in any way! <Blush>

(The British sense of humour... we can seem a little strange!)

vdiatech · 2nd July 2009, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

My only intention was to laugh at myself; I hope you did not think I was aiming at you in any way! <Blush>

(The British sense of humour... we can seem a little strange!)

oh yes, the british humour..little britain would be a nice example lol

lurker · 2nd July 2009, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhinav.gupta88

I am taking the accomodation with en-suite washrooms.
That is a flat with 6-8 flats.
Each with a bed ( double bed), study table , cupboards and attached washrooms and a common kitchen and dining area.

I envy you. When I was in rez we used to take open showers with just a curtain for modesty.

Samir Taheer · 2nd July 2009, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhinav.gupta88

Do i get Gilette Mach3 Blades in UK or should i take them from India itself?
I would need to purchase around 3-4 UK type sockets for chargers etc.

Yeah you do get Mach3 blades here i think its about £8 for a pack of 4.

[quote=abhinav.gupta88;1367122]An information I would love to know.
How about trips to countries like France, Switzerland etc.
Are they easily accessible by cars/trains etc. What about the charges of the Euro Tunnel train to France and then to paris?

I think you can go to switzerland on your student visa (I know you could on a work permit). To venture anywhere else, you will need a Schenguan visa.

I think the Eurotunnel costs around £150ish for a return journey about the same for the Eurostar, but the vary soooo much depending on when you book - ie - how early or late, or how many days you would like it valid for.

I think its fair to say that England is a very tourist friendly place and once your here, you'll find it quite easy to find your way around. Honestly your worrying too much

OT - For British Humour, i dont think it gets better than Monty Python and i think you get Little Britain in India, yes?

mushy876 · 3rd July 2009, 00:00

[quote=Samir Taheer;1368007]Yeah you do get Mach3 blades here i think its about £8 for a pack of 4.

[quote=abhinav.gupta88;1367122]An information I would love to know.
How about trips to countries like France, Switzerland etc.
Are they easily accessible by cars/trains etc. What about the charges of the Euro Tunnel train to France and then to paris?

I think you can go to switzerland on your student visa (I know you could on a work permit). To venture anywhere else, you will need a Schenguan visa.

With regards to the Visa, the regulation was that you could travel to Switzerland if you hold a "long-term" British Visa, i.e. Six-months or above. Your student visa definitely qualifies for that.

And as Samir said, any of the other Schengen countries would entail a Schengen Visa. This particular visa is usually "single-entry" visa when issued the first time. Subsequent applications usually receive multiple entries. Very useful as you could travel across a great geographical chunk of Europe with this visa.

Another head-up i would suggest is that you bookmark this website, Home | Transport for London . A very useful travel planner for London train and Bus routes.
Hope these are of some help. Good Luck.

sbasak · 3rd July 2009, 02:41

Have a look at this site
IAmNewToUK.com (aka IAmNewToLondon.com)- A Popular Guide for Visitors, Students, Professionals In London & UK - Students, Professionals, NRIs, Tourists

Though site's presentation leaves a lot to be desired and some info is out of date, nevertheless, very useful info for any newcomers in UK.

anekho · 29th July 2009, 17:42

OT, but a fast question.

My sister has completed a four and half year computer engineering degree referred to in sweden as a Civil Engineer.

What is this equivalent to in India? M.tech?

cheers

IMP · 31st July 2009, 00:23

Does anyone have any experience with matrix sim cards? they give you a T-Mobile sim card which one can use immediately after arriving in the UK. Is it recommended?

How difficult is it to get a sim card from there? especially for students. Somebody here mentioned O2 to be better.

Regards!

Thad E Ginathom · 31st July 2009, 12:52

It is easy to get pre-paid sim cards in UK; there is no paperwork necessary at all.

Bought a Virgin pre-paid for my wife's phone (I have a years-old Virgin account) last month at less-than-face-price from a street stall.

The only problem with mobile phones in UK is that they are very expensive to use, much more so than a landline. Certainly avoid using them to call home! We had some urgent problems at home while we were away in UK, and ran up around Rs8,000 in phone bill!

There are phone cards you can buy on the street. Usually they have a face value of £5, but sometimes you can get two, or even four, for £10. It is a scratch card: you enter the code before dialing yuor Indian number, and pay only for a local call on the UK phone. Sometimes these cards a rubbish, and useless, but mostly they are effective.

simply_sunny001 · 31st July 2009, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMP

Does anyone have any experience with matrix sim cards? they give you a T-Mobile sim card which one can use immediately after arriving in the UK. Is it recommended?

How difficult is it to get a sim card from there? especially for students. Somebody here mentioned O2 to be better.

Regards!

stay away from Matrix, they are big cheats and have poor service.

like Thad said you can buy Prepaid in 2 mins from anywhere and without any documentation.

But you can bring your GSM phone from india and buy a sim only plan or prepaid, that would be very cost effective.

Thad E Ginathom · 31st July 2009, 14:51

Yes, take your GSM phone with you.

If you buy a phone there it will be locked to a single supplier. Of course, they can be unlocked, but it is an additional expense.

abhinav.gupta88 · 1st August 2009, 00:11

I wanted to know about the common banks in India and UK. ( Good ones which are consumer and student friendly)

P.S. I am going to Royal Holloway , anyone ?

IMP · 1st August 2009, 00:54

Ok, point taken regarding matrix, wont be using them, i'll buy a sim once i'm there.

I would also like to know about banks, i was thinking about HSBC.

OT: Got my visa today

abhinav.gupta88 · 1st August 2009, 00:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMP

Ok, point taken regarding matrix, would get only the sim card from there.

I would also like to know about banks, i was thinking about HSBC.

OT: Got my visa today

I think there's barclay.

Is HSBC there?

Congrats on the Visa. How much time did the visa process take?

Are you going to study? If yes, what course, which university?

simply_sunny001 · 1st August 2009, 01:02

HSBC is common and a good bank and has a lot of branches everywhere in uk.

so open a bank account with HSBC and here you probably wont need to give much details and all that.

3rd July 2009, 00:00	#95
mushy876 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Secunderabad Posts: 16 Thanked: 13 Times	[quote=Samir Taheer;1368007]Yeah you do get Mach3 blades here i think its about £8 for a pack of 4. [quote=abhinav.gupta88;1367122]An information I would love to know. How about trips to countries like France, Switzerland etc. Are they easily accessible by cars/trains etc. What about the charges of the Euro Tunnel train to France and then to paris? I think you can go to switzerland on your student visa (I know you could on a work permit). To venture anywhere else, you will need a Schenguan visa. With regards to the Visa, the regulation was that you could travel to Switzerland if you hold a "long-term" British Visa, i.e. Six-months or above. Your student visa definitely qualifies for that. And as Samir said, any of the other Schengen countries would entail a Schengen Visa. This particular visa is usually "single-entry" visa when issued the first time. Subsequent applications usually receive multiple entries. Very useful as you could travel across a great geographical chunk of Europe with this visa. Another head-up i would suggest is that you bookmark this website, Home \| Transport for London . A very useful travel planner for London train and Bus routes. Hope these are of some help. Good Luck.
	() Thanks

3rd July 2009, 02:41	#96
sbasak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CCU-LTN Posts: 608 Thanked: 14 Times	Have a look at this site IAmNewToUK.com (aka IAmNewToLondon.com)- A Popular Guide for Visitors, Students, Professionals In London & UK - Students, Professionals, NRIs, Tourists Though site's presentation leaves a lot to be desired and some info is out of date, nevertheless, very useful info for any newcomers in UK.
	() Thanks

29th July 2009, 17:42	#97
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,995 Thanked: 684 Times	OT, but a fast question. My sister has completed a four and half year computer engineering degree referred to in sweden as a Civil Engineer. What is this equivalent to in India? M.tech? cheers
	() Thanks

31st July 2009, 00:23	#98
IMP BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 123 Thanked: 30 Times	Does anyone have any experience with matrix sim cards? they give you a T-Mobile sim card which one can use immediately after arriving in the UK. Is it recommended? How difficult is it to get a sim card from there? especially for students. Somebody here mentioned O2 to be better. Regards!
	() Thanks

31st July 2009, 12:52	#99
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,998 Thanked: 26,415 Times	It is easy to get pre-paid sim cards in UK; there is no paperwork necessary at all. Bought a Virgin pre-paid for my wife's phone (I have a years-old Virgin account) last month at less-than-face-price from a street stall. The only problem with mobile phones in UK is that they are very expensive to use, much more so than a landline. Certainly avoid using them to call home! We had some urgent problems at home while we were away in UK, and ran up around Rs8,000 in phone bill! There are phone cards you can buy on the street. Usually they have a face value of £5, but sometimes you can get two, or even four, for £10. It is a scratch card: you enter the code before dialing yuor Indian number, and pay only for a local call on the UK phone. Sometimes these cards a rubbish, and useless, but mostly they are effective.
	() Thanks

31st July 2009, 14:51	#101
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,998 Thanked: 26,415 Times	Yes, take your GSM phone with you. If you buy a phone there it will be locked to a single supplier. Of course, they can be unlocked, but it is an additional expense.
	() Thanks

1st August 2009, 00:11	#102
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	I wanted to know about the common banks in India and UK. ( Good ones which are consumer and student friendly) P.S. I am going to Royal Holloway , anyone ?
	() Thanks

1st August 2009, 00:54	#103
IMP BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 123 Thanked: 30 Times	Ok, point taken regarding matrix, wont be using them, i'll buy a sim once i'm there. I would also like to know about banks, i was thinking about HSBC. OT: Got my visa today Last edited by IMP : 1st August 2009 at 00:58.
	() Thanks

1st August 2009, 01:02	#105
simply_sunny001 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London & Rohtak Posts: 1,340 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	HSBC is common and a good bank and has a lot of branches everywhere in uk. so open a bank account with HSBC and here you probably wont need to give much details and all that.
	() Thanks