Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a selection of questions and answers often asked by students that are interested in studying in the UK.

1. How do I find out more about your study programmes?

2. What is the advantage of enrolling for study through Intercambio?

3. I would like to apply for a place, what do I do next?

4. What does it cost to study in the UK?

5. What level of English is required to be able to enrol at the university? 

6. Is there a deadline for enrolling on any of the university programmes?

7. Are there any scholarships available for international students?

8. Can I work in the UK during my studies?

9. Do I need a student visa?

10. What is ATAS and do I need it?

11. Can I work in the UK after I've graduated from a UK university?

12. How do I find accommodation in the UK as a student?

13. Can I bring my family with me to the UK?

14. How is the weather in the UK?

1. How do I find out more about your study programmes?

If you have specific queries about a course, would like to order a course brochure or have any other further queries about studying at any of the institutions we represent, or our services, please use our contact form to get in touch.

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2. What is the advantage of enrolling for my study programme
through Intercambio?

You can apply and enrol on a course independently from anyone but you may find that applying for study overseas is not always as straightforward as it sounds.

If you apply through Intercambio you will receive useful help, guidance and advice in finding the course that best suits your personal needs and requirement from an impartial point of view. You may find that there are many study options available in the UK and sometimes it is difficult to know what course is appropriate and how to start the whole application process. We guide you through the entire process from helping you identify the right course and apply for it, secure an offer, prepare for your studies in the UK, help find and apply for appropriate accommodation and assist you throughout the study visa application process. More than 10 years of experience in helping international students will guarantee you lots of general advice and tips on how to best prepare yourself for your study abroad through a highly personalised service.

Enrolling through Intercambio means that you are entitled to a whole range of services free of charge prior to and after arrival in the UK. Staff at Intercambio have been international students themselves and have lived, studied and worked in the UK and therefore know from personal experience what is required before you can study abroad. Please note that all the institutions we represent have formally appointed Intercambio as their representative.

Please click here for a complete overview of all free services we offer to international students.

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3. I would like to apply for a place, what do I do next?

If you would like to apply for a study place or would like some help to identify an appropriate course for you please contact us.

We would like to emphasize:

• There is no application deadline for foundation, pre-masters, graduate diploma and postgraduate courses, nor English language courses. You can apply for a study place as long as there are places available although students need to allow sufficient time for their applications to be processed.
• The exception to this are undergraduate Bachelors courses as the application process for undergraduate study is a little different from postgraduate students. Students applying for undergraduate courses often have to apply through a central UK admissions processed called UCAS and UCAS operates a strict application deadline which usually closes a couple of months before the start of the course. Please contact us should you wish to apply for an undergraduate course.
• You can apply for a study place at a UK university even if you are still awaiting your final examination results or have to take an IELTS or TOEFL English language exam. International students can secure so called conditional offers meaning that you can secure a study place provided you work towards meeting certain conditions. For instance if you still awaiting your final exam results a university may decide to make you a conditional offer with the condition being that you secure a certain final average exam score. Many international students secure conditional offers often based on them achieving a certain IELTS or TOEFL score before they can start their studies.
• You can apply for a study place well in advance of the actual startdate of the course. For example, if you want to start your studies in the next academic year (i.e. January or September 2012) you can submit your application well in advance even though your proposed start date is more than a year away.

Due to the high number of applications UK educational institutions receive from international students we advise you to submit your application as early as possible.

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4. What does it cost to study in the UK?

If you are considering to study an undergraduate or postgraduate programme you will need around £7,500 - £8,500 to cover your living expenses for 12 months, depending on where you will live. Studying in the London metropolitan area is more expensive than studying outside the London area.

Tuition fees for undergraduate or postgraduate courses can range from £8,000 to £15,000 depending on the programme and the university you've applied for. This means that the combined costs of academic fees, accommodation costs and living costs ranges from £15,500 to £22,500 per student year (USD 23,500 - 35,000*), depending on the course chosen, your study location and your lifestyle. Below is a typical breakdown of costs for each year of your studies.

Undergraduate or Postgraduate tuition fees	£8,000-15,000
Books and stationary	£200-400
Accommodation/electricity/gas/water	£2,000-4,000
Food	£1,500-2,000
Public Transport	£300-400
Clothing	£400-500
Telephone/Post	£200-250
Leisure/Entertainment	£500-700

In order to obtain a study visa and gain entry clearance to the UK you must be able to prove you have sufficient funds to pay your tuition fees and support yourself throughout the duration of your studies in the UK.

* As per December 2010 exchange rates

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5. What level of English is required to be able to enrol on a university course?

In order to succeed in your studies you need to have a very good command of the English language. Therefore international students that apply for undergraduate or postgraduate courses must be able to prove they have a sufficient level of competence in English and you often have to prove this with a recognised and UKBA approved English language qualification such as:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• Cambridge CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
• Cambridge CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• TOEFL - IBT (Teaching of English as a Foreign Language - Internet Based Test)
• Pearson PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic)
• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)

There are some other English language tests that may be accepted by universities. If you have an English test certificate that is different from the ones mentioned above please contact us so that we can check if your English language test is acceptable to universities and the UKBA. Please note that the TOEFL pBT is no longer accepted by the UKBA.

What English test scores are required by universities?

Different universities and courses require different English language test scores depending on the quality of the institution and/or difficulty of the programme. For instance, an English Literature programme may require a higher score than a Fine Art programme. Below is an overview of the typical scores that may be asked for in IELTS and the TOEFL iBT and Pearson PTE equivalents. Please note that English language requirements for students wanting to study a university foundation or pre-masters courses are usually lower.

IELTS	TOEFL iBT	Pearson PTE
6.0	79	54
6.5	89	61
7.0	100	68
7.5	113	76
Test validity	Test validity	Test validity
2 years	2 years	2 years

What English test scores are required by Pathway/Foundation colleges?

Students that have to study a Foundation, Pre-Masters or Graduate Diploma course are often required to obtain an IELTS score (or equivalent) of at least 4.5 or 5.0 (depending on the institution/university)
This would often secure students a place on a 3-term foundation programme. A higher IELTS score (5.0 or 5.5) would mean that students can start on a shorter,fast-track 2-term foundation programme.

University English test requirements vs. UKBA visa requirements - UPDATE 21 APRIL 2011

On the 21st of April 2011 the UKBA has implemented new rules with regards to students applying for a study visa under the Adult Student Visa - Tier 4 of the PBS (points-based system.)

The new rules relate to:

• Type of English language test - the UKBA now only accepts UKBA approved English language tests, called Secure English Language Tests. The tests mentioned above are amongst those that are accepted by the UKBA but there are some additional ones so please contact us if you want to know if your English language test is valid under the new Tier 4 visa rules.
• Validity of the English test certificate - Students have to ensure that their Secure English Language Test certificate is valid. IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson or TOEIC certificates should never be more than 2 years old by the time a student's CAS number is issued although the CAE and CPE do not expire.
• Minimum English test scores - Students need to have obtained certain minimum scores in each individual component of the English language test regardless if the university has imposed any minimum score requirements. What those minimum requirements are depends on the type of university course you've applied for but for most students that hold an offer for a Masters or PhD programme they need to have obtained a minimum score of 5.5 in each IELTS component or 21 (listening and writing), 22 (reading) and 23 (speaking) in the TOEFL iBT test.

For more information about the new visa rules and an overview of the Secure English Language Tests that are accepted, their validity and minimum scores required for visa purposes please visit this page on the UKBA website. It is important that Tier 4 study visa applicants acquaint themselves with the new rules. It is important that students are aware that the new rules apply to everyone, regardless if a university has issued you with an unconditional offer or may have originally waived the English language requirements completely. Therefore, if you hold an unconditional offer you need to check that you have an English test certificate that meets the new UKBA requirements as otherwise your study visa application will not be successful and there are no exceptions to the new rules. If you do not hold a valid Secure English Language Test you need to book one to ensure you meet the new requirements and we strongly advise students to contact us if they would like us to check if their English language tests or test results are acceptable.

Please note that if you wish to apply for a study place but you are yet to take an English language test you can still apply and may receive a conditional offer. A conditional offer ensures that students can secure a provisional study place provided that they then obtain the required English language qualification and scores before they are allowed to apply for their study visa. Many international students prepare for their English qualification in their home country but others choose to study English in the UK during the months prior to their course startdate and take an examination in the UK. Students that do not meet the new UKBA English language requirements may also consider enrolling on a special Academic English Preparatory course at the university at which they hold their offer. Intercambio can help you secure a place on a wide range of academic preparatory courses and courses vary in length from a few weeks to an entire year, depending on your current level of English. If you are considering preparing for university entry through an Academic English Preparatory course please contact us so that we can help you identify the course that best suits your requirements.

If you do not yet have a recognised English language qualification we advise you to test your currrent English level by taking an IELTS or TOEFL examination. In Mexico these are organised through a number of organisations including the British Council and tests are regularly conducted in many cities across Mexico including Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Xalapa, Culiacan, Merida, Veracruz, Chihuahua, Queretaro and Puebla.

IELTS and TOEFL test centres and test dates

To find out more about IELTS test centres and test dates in your country please click here.
To find out more about TOEFL test centres and test dates in your country please click here.

An IELTS exam will cost you around 1,800 Mexican Pesos (USD 150). A TOEFL iBT exam will cost around 1,900 Mexican Pesos (USD 160).

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6. Is there a deadline for enrolling on any of the university programmes?

Most courses start in September each year although some courses have a second intake, starting in January each year. In theory you can enrol up to a few weeks before the start of the study semester as long as there are places available and as long as you leave enough time to make all the necessary arrangements required to be able to actually start your studies such as accommodation, finances, visa, English langauge test and travel arrangements.

Please bear in mind that numbers are restricted and places can fill rather quickly depending on the popularity of the course you apply for. You also need to give yourself enough time to make all necessary arrangements such as obtaining a visa, sort out your finances and organise accommodation. Therefore we advise you to start the application procedure as soon as possible, ideally about 6 - 8 months in advance of your study start date in order to avoid disappointment.

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7. Are there any scholarships available for international students?

Many universities will offer some type of (partial) scholarships to international students, some are automatic ones, others will be competitive. Scholarships tend to change every year so it is best to check with us if there are any scholarships for the programme you are interested in. Often you will find that scholarships in the UK are partial scholarships or bursaries, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds. It is very difficult to find universities that offer full scholarships to overseas students with the exception of Research/PhD study where funding opportunities may be available to overseas students. Please note that in order to apply for a scholarships it is expected that you first apply and secure a firm study place from a university.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office runs the annual British Chevening Programme. The Chevening Programme offers scholarships to allow bright, non-British, students to study at UK higher education institutions. Please click here for more information about the Chevening Programme which is managed by the British Council.

Students may also look for study loans in their home country. Please note that as an international student it is not possible to secure study loans from banks in the UK when you are a foreign national who does not work or live in the UK.

If you'd like to receive some more information about all scholarship and student loan schemes available to Mexican students please contact us.

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8. Can I work in the UK curing my studies?

International students that are undertaking a course at degree/undergraduate or postgraduate level at a higher education institution and whose course will last for at least 6 months are allowed to work 20 hours per week part-time during term-time and full-time during vacations. Students that undertake courses below degree/undergraduate level at a higher education institution, or college of further education, and whose course will last for at least 6 months are allowed to work 10 hours per week part-time during term-time and full-time during vacations. Students that undertake courses that last less than 6 months are not entitled to work during their studies.  

When considering the option of looking for employment during your studies you have to bear in mind that your main aim is to study in the UK and we know from experience that many international students often do not have enough time to work next to their studies as courses can be intensive. In addition you need to be aware that there will be many more students chasing part-time work opportunities and therefore you will face stiff competition. Most universities recommend that students do not work for more than 12 hours per week as otherwise your studies will suffer.

In accordance with European employment law employers have to pay you a minimum wage which is £4,92 for workers aged 18-20 and £5.93 for workers aged 21 and above* In practice wages will be different, depending on the type of work and employer.

You do not require official permission to work up to the permitted hours, provided you are not engaging in business, self employment or the provision of services as a sports person or entertainer. You can also undertake work placements which are part of your course or undertake internship placements with an employer whilst studying in the UK.

Whatever your plans, please ensure that you never depend on income received through work to pay for your studies. In order to obtain a study visa and gain entry clearance to the UK you must be able to prove you have sufficient funds to pay your tuition fees and living expenses for the full duration of your stay in the UK.

* From 1st of October 2010 onwards

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9. Do I need a student visa?

Yes, most students from outside the European Union that want to study a full-time course for 6 months or more need to apply for a student visa under the Tier 4 of the points-based system (PBS). Before you can submit a study visa application you need to obtain a so called 'Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies' (CAS) number. Without a CAS you cannot apply for a study visa. The CAS will not be issued until you have secured an unconditional study place at an eduational institution that is recognised by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and that holds a Highly Trusted Sponsor License. In addition students may be required to pay a deposit towards their tuition fees before a CAS is issued. All students need to meet the UKBA and university English language conditions and must be able to prove that they have sufficient financial means to support themselves during their studies in the UK.

Students that apply for an English language programme may have to apply for a visa but the type of visa required is determined by the type of course you will study, its duration and your nationality. Students from some countries may have to apply for a visa that allows them entry on a Student Visitor visa. If you are younger than 18 years of age the visa you may have to apply for a Child Visitor visa. Intercambio will check if you require a visa and if so we can advise you which visa you require and how to apply for one. Please note that you will have to pay a fee to your local British Embassy or Visa Application Centre for the visa application and biometric enrolment process.

For more information on arranging entry clearance for Mexican students please contact us or contact the British Embassy in Mexico or the UKBA website.  For students from all other countries please contact your local embassy.  

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10. What is the ATAS and do I need it?

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) was introduced in 2007 and it is a requirement for non UK or EU overseas students that apply for postgraduate study in certain sensitive areas that they obtain an ATAS certificate before they apply for a study visa. Students that require ATAS clearance will usually be notified about this on the offer letter that they receive from the university they applied to. However, if students are not sure if their course requires ATAS clearance they should check directly with the university they've applied to.

• Students need to apply for an ATAS certificate BEFORE they apply for a study visa. If students that require an ATAS certificate cannot provide one with their visa application the visa will be automatically refused.
• Students can start the ATAS application with either a conditional or unconditional offer.
• If students hold more than one offer for a programme that requires ATAS clearance they need to apply for separate ATAS clearance certificates for each university and programme of study.
• Obtaining an ATAS clearance certificate does not guarantee students a visa or extension of stay.
• Students can apply for an ATAS certificate up to 6 months in advance of the beginning of their course.
• Applying for an ATAS certificate can be done online and the application is free.
• The FCO aims to process all ATAS applications within 20 working days although this time may increase during busy periods.

For more information on ATAS please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

11. Can I work in the UK after I've graduated from a UK university?

International students who successfully graduate from a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course (Masters or PhD) will be able to remain in the UK if they manage to secure a Tier 2 work visa with help of a UKBA licensed Tier 2 sponsor/employer. From April 2012 the current Tier 1 Post-Study Work Scheme will be closed to new applicants.

The UKBA also runs a Student Entrepreneur Programme which will allow bright innovative students to remain in the UK following successful completion of their studies to market and pursue their ideas.   

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12. How do I find accommodation in the UK as a student?

Universities and language schools in the UK offer accommodation for international students and all the institutions we work with will automatically guarantee accommodation to our students and help you find a room that suits your budget and requirements.

There are various types of university accommodation ranging from university owned Halls of Residence, which have restaurants, to self-catered private sector apartments and student houses. English language students will often be placed with a British host family to help further improve your English. Intercambio staff will advise you on what options are available to you when you book a course through us and how to apply for student accommodation. In fact, students can book a room in a student halls of residence directly with Intercambio in pretty much any city across the UK. 

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13. Can I bring my family with me to the UK?

If you will be studying in the UK on courses for six months of less you cannot bring your dependants (partners and/or children.) International students will only be able to bring their dependants when they:

a) study in the UK on full-time courses for more than 6 months that are offered at a higher education institution

or

b) you have a visa for your dependants

and

c) you can financially support your dependants whereby the UKBA stipulates specific maintenance fees required for each of your dependants

14. What is the weather like in the UK?

The UK has a moderate climate with an average summer temperature of around 16 degrees Celsius and average winter temperature of around 3-6 degrees Celsius. Winters in the UK and Western Europe over the past decade or so have become relatively mild with temperatures rarely dropping below zero degrees Celsius during the day.

However, for students coming from warmer countries, the climate in the UK is something you will have to get used to, especially during the winter when it can get cold. In return for any hardship endured during winter you will enjoy the mild to warm spring and summer period in the UK with the additional benefit of long daylight hours.

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