Questions & answers

Below is a selection of questions and answers often asked
about studying in the UK.

How do I find out more about your study programmes?
What is the advantage of enrolling for study through Intercambio?
I would like to apply for a place, what do I do next?
What does it cost to study in Sheffield?
What level of English is required to be able to enrol at the university?
Is there a deadline for enrolling on any of the university programmes?
Are there any scholarships available for international students?
Can I work in the UK as a student?
Do I need a student visa?
How is the weather in the UK?
Can I work in the UK after I have graduated from a UK university?
How do I find accommodation in the UK as a student?
Can I bring my family with me to the UK?
What are the various stages of the application process?

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

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

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

You can apply and enrol for 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 and advice in finding the course that best suits your personal needs from an impartial point of view. We will help you with completing and processing your application form, submit further documentation on your behalf, help you apply for a student visa if you need one, and give you general advice on how to best prepare yourself for your study abroad through a highly personalised service in your own language.

Enrolling through Intercambio means that you are entitled to a whole range of additional services free of charge prior to and after arrival in the UK. All staff at Intercambio have been international students themselves and have lived, studied and worked in Sheffield and other places and hence we know through personal experience what is involved in preparing to study abroad and the issues you may encounter when you are not properly prepared.

Please click here for a complete overview of our services to 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 please contact us.
We will then send you an electronic application form for the programme of your choice and give you advice on how to complete it and how to submit all covering documents.

We would like to emphasize:

There is no application deadline for postgraduate studies. You can apply for a place as long as there are places available. There are deadlines for undergraduate applications.
There are deadlines in place for undergraduate study and the application process for undergraduate study is a little different from postgraduate students. Please contact us first should you want to apply for undergraduate study.
You can apply for a place even if you still have to finish your current studies and have to sit an IELTS or TOEFL English language exam. Many international students are made conditional offers which means that your place is secured as long as you submit certain outstanding documentation before you will be issued with an unconditional offer and visa letter.
You can apply for a place in advance. So if you are thinking about starting in the next academic year (i.e. September 2009) you can submit your application now even though your proposed start date is more than a year away.

Due to the high number of applications we receive we advise students to submit their application as soon as possible to ensure a place can be reserved.

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4. What does it cost to study in Sheffield?

You will need around £7,500 to cover your living costs for one year of full-time study in Sheffield. Tuition fees which can range from £8,000 to £15,000 depending on the programme 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 30,000 - 35,000), depending on the course chosen and your lifestyle. Below is a typical breakdown of costs.

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
Travel in Sheffield	£300-400
Clothing	£400-500
Telephone/Post	£200-250
Leisure/Entertainment	£500-700

In order to obtain a student 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 course.

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5. What level of English is required to be able to enroll at a university course?

In order to succeed in your studies you need to have a very good command of the English language and therefore international students must be able to prove they have a sufficiently good level of competence in English with a recognised qualification.

Both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University require certification in either IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Teaching of English as a Foreign Language).
Both universities require a minimum IELTS average of 6.0 or above with at least 5 in each component, or 6.5 to 7.0 with at least 6 in the written component for courses where a higher standard of English is required. This is roughly equivalent to 550 - 600 TOEFL score (250 points for the computer based test).

If you apply for a Postgraduate course and you do not have the required English qualification you can still apply and may receive a conditional offer, which means that you then need to obtain the required English qualification before you are allowed to start your studies. Many international students prepare for their English qualification in their country of origin but others choose to study English in the UK during the months before their course starts and take the examination in the UK. Please note that all our universities offer English language support programme for international students once you have enrolled.

The University of Sheffield (through the ELTC) and Sheffield Hallam University (through the TESOL Centre) both run accredited English summer courses and academic English courses aimed at international students. Courses vary in length from a few weeks to an entire year. Intercambio can help you find a suitable English language course that meets your specific requirements. You can read more about our English language programmes on our website. If you have any queries about courses available than please
contact us.

If you do not yet have a recognised English language qualification we advise you to test your level by taking an IELTS or TOEFL examination. In Mexico these are organised through the British Council or local English language schools. An IELTS exam will cost you about £100 (USD 200). If you'd like to receive more information on the IELTS exam please contact your local British Council office.

For Mexican students you can contact the British Council on tel. 5263 1900/1930, fax. 5263 1910 or by e-mail at bcmexico@britishcouncil.org.mx. Their office is located at Lope de Vega No. 316, Fracc. Chapultepec Morales, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, Apartado Postal 30-588, C.P. 11570, Mexico City. Alternatively please visit the British Council IELTS website

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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 allow you to start in January. In theory you can enroll 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 your accommodation and travel arrangements.

Please bear in mind that numbers are restricted and places are often filled quickly due to the popularity of some courses. In some instances places are already allocated up to 10 months before the start of the course. 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, and register your interest at least 6 - 8 months in advance to avoid disappointment.

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7. Are there any scholarships available for international students?

Both universities have some scholarships available, 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.
Please note that both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University only offer partial scholarships and it is pratically impossible to find full scholarships in the UK unless you apply for Research/PhD study. Please note that in order to apply for potential scholarships you always first need to secure an offer.

Students may also look for study loans in their home country. It is impossible to find study loans in the UK when you are a foreign national that does not work or live in the UK.

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8. Can I work in the UK as a student?

Yes, as an international student you are allowed to work part-time during your studies, up to a maximum of 20 hours per week, and full time during the holidays. However, 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 one year Masters programmes can be intensive. In addition you need to be aware that there may be many other students looking for part-time work as well and you will be facing competition.

In accordance with European employment law employers have to pay you a minimum wage, which is currently £5.52 per hour for workers over the age of 22. After deduction of taxes and National Insurance premium, which will be arranged through your employer, you will be left with approximately £3.60 per hour.

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 while studying in the UK.

Whatever your plans, please ensure that you never depend on income received through work to pay for your studies as you will not be issued a visa.

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9. Do I need a student visa?

Yes, Mexican students do need a student visa. In order to apply for a visa you need an unconditional offer for a study place at a UK university and you must be able to prove that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself during your studies in the UK.

Intercambio will help and advise you in preparing your visa documents. Please note that you might have to pay a small fee to your local British Embassy to obtain the required documentation prior to your arrival.

For more information on arranging entry clearance please contact us or contact your local British Embassy. The British Embassy in Mexico is located at Rio Lerma 71, Col. Cuauhtemoc, Mexico DF, 06500, Apdo 96 bis, telephone 5207 2449/2089/2593, fax 5 242 8517. For more information you can also visit the British Embassy Mexico Website

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10. 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 and wet with temperatures rarely dropping below zero degrees Celsius during the day.

However, those 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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11. Can I work in the UK after I have graduated from a UK university?

All international students who successfully graduate from a postgraduate course (Masters or PhD) in the UK are allowed to work in the UK for up to 1 year after graduation (although this may soon be increased to 2 years), under current immigration legislation. At the end of the 12 months you are eligible to apply to stay in the UK through either the Highly Skilled Migrant programme or by gaining a work permit through your employer.

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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. There are various types of accommodation ranging from university owned Halls of Residence, which have restaurants, to self-catered private sector apartments and student houses. There are many different options to suit different budgets. International students are guaranteed a place in university accommodation, provided the application is submitted before certain deadlines and you have secured and accepted your offer for a study place.

If you choose to live in private sector accommodation in Sheffield you will be pleased to know that in general there is plenty of student rooms available.

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

Your spouse and children (under 18 years old) can join you in the UK. Please note that every member of the family must have a valid visa or entry clearance in order to enter the UK, and you must be able to prove that you can financially support your dependents.
Your spouse will be able to work in the UK only if you have been granted more than 12 months’ leave to remain.

14. What are the various stages of the application process?

If you click the below link we will take you through the various stages of the application process through a small presentation which we call the Application Road Map.

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