Living in the United Kingdom

Everything you need to know.

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Since the United Kingdom left the European Union, the requirements for living in the UK have changed. However, what has not changed is the excellent quality of its education and the numerous opportunities that this country continues to offer.

Living in the United Kingdom for a while is the best way to boost your English and your resume. And don’t let the bad weather deceive you! The United Kingdom is full of educational, work, and personal opportunities for anyone who comes equipped with a good raincoat. Keep reading to discover it all!

8 reasons to live in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a country where hundreds of nationalities converge, enriching the already rich British culture. In the UK, you will not only enjoy studying English at quality institutions with a long history, but you will also have access to highly advanced educational programs tailored to the current job market.

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Learn English with a perfect accent

Living in the United Kingdom for a while gives you the opportunity to learn English without having to go far from home. Living in the UK will allow you to take a course in English schools with excellent educational programs, and you will also learn British English, an accent that is easy to understand and widely accepted.

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Open many doors for your professional future

Living in the United Kingdom gives you the possibility to add very important skills to your resume. The first and most obvious is English. But you will also have the opportunity to experience other ways of life, interact with people from different countries and backgrounds that will help you develop valuable qualities such as empathy and assertiveness.

Additionally, in the UK, you can obtain official English titles from Cambridge and Oxford, which will make your CV much more attractive to companies.

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Europe within reach

Undoubtedly, the United Kingdom is one of the best countries from which to explore the rest of Europe.

In the UK, you will find some of the world’s most important international airports, with many airlines, including low-cost ones, based there. This means you can take a flight and be almost anywhere in Europe in less than 3 hours.

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English 24 hours a day

The official language in the United Kingdom is English, so if you travel to the country for a while to improve your English, you can have a total language immersion. In the UK, you will learn English from the moment you wake up until you go to bed, almost without realizing it!

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Stay working in one of the most important countries in the world

The United Kingdom has a stable and robust economy, where the average citizen enjoys a comfortable life and a fair salary.

Living in the United Kingdom for a while to study English is a way to get to know the local market and look for potential companies that may hire us once we finish perfecting our English.

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Fall in love with the british lifestyle

Their humor, love for sports, literature, and architecture, their wonderful Victorian era, literature, the industrial revolution, their famous tea time… British culture is very rich and full of customs and traditions that you will discover little by little while living in the United Kingdom, and they will become part of your memories.

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Make friends from all over the world

The United Kingdom is a very multicultural country where you can meet many students from all over the world who, like you, have decided to travel to the country for a while to improve their English. Also, if you plan your trip with Dingoos, we will put you in touch with other students like you so that you can get to know each other even before arriving in the United Kingdom.

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Endless leisure activities and plans

Living for a while in the United Kingdom ensures that you have endless plans and moments at your fingertips that will not leave you indifferent. Visits to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards, a walk to see Big Ben, ride the London Eye for a panoramic view, or even enjoy a delicious beer in one of its famous pubs.

And how are you going to finance all these plans and activities you will do in the United Kingdom? Well, if you manage to work in the country, it will be very easy. And you may wonder… How are the salaries in the United Kingdom? Keep reading, and we’ll tell you.

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How are salaries in the United Kingdom?

In the United Kingdom, the minimum wage depends on the age and personal situation of each person.

For example, those under 18 are entitled to a National Minimum Wage of £4.62 per hour, young people aged 18 to 21 are entitled to a minimum wage of £6.56 per hour, and young people aged 21 to 23 will earn at least £8.36 per hour.

From the age of 23, the National Living Wage is £8.91 per hour.

So, for a person over 23 working 40 hours a week, the minimum wage is £18,532.80 per year. This translates to a monthly salary of £1,544.40, a minimum wage well above the average in other countries such as Spain.

In addition to this, people in the UK usually earn more than the minimum wage. For example, the average salary in 2023 was £40,326.59 per year, which is around £3,400 per month.

Costs of living in the United Kingdom

Regarding the cost of living in the United Kingdom, it will depend a lot on your lifestyle. In general, the cost of living is in line with local salaries, although there are many options for you to save on accommodation, food, and even transportation.

London is one of the most expensive cities, especially if you come with Spanish or Latin American prices in mind. But even so, it is not too outrageous. To give you an idea, here are some prices so you can have a clearer idea of ​​how much your monthly budget might be:

  • Rent for a room in a shared flat in London: £425 per month.
  • Monthly groceries: £150
  • Monthly transportation: £120
  • Water, electricity, and gas: £50
  • Phone + internet: £10
  • Leisure and free time: £150

In total, with your English course, you could cover your monthly expenses with around £900.

What requirements must I meet to live in the United Kingdom? Visas

Since the UK left the European Union, all nationalities need a visa to live, study, and/or work in the United Kingdom. The most requested visas by foreign students and professionals for the UK are:

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Standard Visitor Visa

With the Standard Visitor Visa, you can visit the UK and study a course for a maximum of 6 months. The cost is £95, and the application process is online.

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Short-Term Study Visa

The Short-Term Study Visa for the UK allows studying English courses from 6 to 11 months. Students of any nationality can apply for it, and it costs £186. With this visa, you can stay an extra 30 days beyond the duration of your course, as long as the total time does not exceed 11 months.

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Student Visa

The Student Visa, also known as Tier 4, is the visa you’ll need to apply for if your intention is to study in the United Kingdom for more than 11 months.

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Global Talent Visa

The Tier 1 or Global Talent Visa is the visa that foreign professionals with high qualifications must apply for.

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General Visa

The General Visa or Tier 2 is the visa for the United Kingdom that qualified foreign workers can apply for if they have a job offer in a profession where local workers are scarce.

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Temporary Worker Visa

The Temporary Worker Visa, also known as Tier 5, falls under the category of youth mobility visas and is for foreign workers who want to work temporarily in the United Kingdom.

Whatever your case may be, at Dingoos, we are delighted to advise and recommend the best visa option for you based on your travel goals to the United Kingdom. And if you decide to study, we will assist you with all the procedures such as school enrollment, visa application, medical insurance, and much more. But that’s not all because as part of the #DingoosFamily, you’ll have access to a bunch of completely free services that will surely make your life easier in the UK.

Do you want more information about studying and living in the UK?

Write to us, and a Dingoos Guide will contact you within the next 24/48 hours.

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    Major Cities in the United Kingdom

    In the United Kingdom, you can enjoy the most diverse and multicultural lifestyles. From the quiet life in the countryside to the bustling and relentless life of the big city, where your schedule will fill up with concerts, exhibitions, and cultural events of all kinds. The preferred city for our students in the United Kingdom is London, its capital.

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    London

    London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is one of the most cosmopolitan and advanced cities in the UK, Europe, and the world, with nothing to envy from other world capitals like New York, Berlin, or Sydney.

    Something is always happening in London, and it is the birthplace of many of the latest trends, both urban and gastronomic, cultural, and professional.

    If you come to study English for a while, besides acquiring a 100% British accent, you will have an unforgettable experience in one of the best cities in the world.

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    Accommodation options in the United Kingdom

    In the United Kingdom, there are many types of accommodation to meet the demand of all audiences, budgets, and lifestyles. In the UK, you can choose to live in a student residence, stay with a local family, rent a room in a shared flat, have your own flat, a studio, hostels, or even in a bedsit, a very British type of accommodation.

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    Accommodation in a Student Residence

    If you are coming to study English for a short time or want to save yourself all the headaches involved in looking for housing, the student residence can be a very good option for you. There are all kinds of them: shared rooms, individual rooms, with private bathroom, with shared bathroom, with kitchen, and without kitchen… you choose!

    They usually include the cleaning of common areas, and you can hire meals and forget about having to cook.

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    Accommodation with an English Family

    Living with an English family is ideal for those looking for total immersion in British culture, and it also has the advantage that you can practice English 24 hours a day. Living with a local family, you can enjoy all the comforts of living in a house, and you can choose extras like having your own bathroom or having some meals with the family. This option is cheaper than a student residence, although it is less fun.

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    Living in a Shared Flat or House

    The favorite option for students and young professionals is to rent a room in a shared flat. These are houses with several rooms rented by different tenants, who can be friends or get to know each other at the moment, sharing common areas such as the kitchen, living room, bathroom, or garden.

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    Living in a Bedsit

    Bedsits are a very common type of housing in the UK and Ireland, which basically consists of large, old houses that have been divided into individual rooms and have shared bathrooms. It is a cheap and straightforward option to afford to live alone if you have a tight budget.

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    Living in a Studio

    Studios are housing units that combine the bedroom, living room, and even the kitchen in a single space. It is a very practical way to make the most of a small space. Many studios in the UK have a shared bathroom with other studios in the same building.

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    Youth Hostels

    Youth hostels are a kind of very economical hotels with different options for shared rooms where you can rent a bed and sometimes a private room. Rooms can be male, female, or mixed, and the bathrooms are usually shared, although almost always divided between male and female.

    One of their great advantages is that they are usually located in central and well-connected areas, making them the ideal place to discover the city.

    If you are arriving in the UK for the first time, our recommendation is to book a few nights in a hostel to start the search for permanent accommodation from there.

    Do you want to know more about the United Kingdom?

    Keep reading and discover everything you need to know about studying in the UK and the types of visas to travel to the country.

    United Kingdom

    We want you to know the United Kingdom. That's why we tell you what its main characteristics are, what its cities are like, and some curiosities about the country that will not leave you indifferent. Let's go to the United Kingdom!

    Studying in the UK

    Studying in the United Kingdom is a great opportunity to learn English, study anything you can think of at some of the best institutions in the world, professionalize yourself, and take your first steps in a very dynamic job market.

    Types of Visas

    Since Brexit, if you want to study in the UK, you need a visa. Luckily, at Dingoos, we have already done our homework and have kept up to date to advise and help you choose the best way to fulfill your goal of studying in the United Kingdom. And completely free!

    Climate of the United Kingdom

    The climate of the United Kingdom is temperate oceanic, characterized by warm summers, cool winters, and abundant rainfall throughout the year.

    One peculiarity of the climate in the United Kingdom is that it can change rapidly throughout the day, experiencing all four seasons in just 24 hours.

    And what are the seasons like in the United Kingdom? Just keep reading.

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    Winter

    Winter has a special charm in the United Kingdom. Temperatures drop, mornings are covered in ice and sometimes snow, and the few hours of light are dressed in a magical mist. Winter lasts from December to February, with average temperatures of 4 degrees, so don’t forget to bring warm and water-resistant clothing.

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    Spring

    In the United Kingdom, spring begins in March and ends in May. During these months, the weather is windy and rainy, with temperatures ranging from 7°C to 12°C.

    But without rain, there would be no flowers. In these months, the first blooming trees start to be seen, it’s quite a spectacle! Put on some good rain boots, get a sturdy umbrella, and go for a walk enjoying the increasingly longer days; during spring in the United Kingdom, there is an average of 12 hours of daylight per day.

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    Summer

    Summer is the most anticipated and unfortunately short season in the United Kingdom. From June to August, temperatures are mild, with averages of 17 degrees, and a delightful sun that will brighten your life for more than 17 hours a day.

    Even in summer, the United Kingdom is quite rainy, so always be prepared. Your weapons? A swimsuit and an umbrella, you never know!

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    Autumn

    Autumn in the United Kingdom runs from September to November. During these months, temperatures drop from an average of 14 degrees in September to 8 in November. Generally, it rains a lot, and the hours of daylight decrease to an average of 12 hours a day.

    If you land in the United Kingdom during these months, don’t forget the umbrella, a waterproof jacket, and some good sweaters, as it starts to get cold.

    What clothes to wear to be prepared for the weather in the United Kingdom?

    In any season of the year, whenever you travel to the United Kingdom, it is advisable to wear comfortable and water-resistant footwear, you never know. During the summer, you can wear light clothing, cotton garments, etc., but don’t forget to pack a sweater or jacket, as it can come in handy at night. In spring and autumn, the main concern is rain, so umbrellas, raincoats, and light outerwear will be very useful. In winter, everything that keeps you warm will be necessary: scarf, gloves, hat, coat, etc.

    What to do in the United Kingdom?

    The United Kingdom is a country full of historical monuments, natural landscapes, castles, cathedrals, parks, and other tourist attractions for those who love to explore new and charming places. Here are some places you can’t miss:

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    Westminster Palace

    It is one of the most iconic buildings in the United Kingdom. It is a beautiful Gothic-style palace with over 1200 rooms, 11 courtyards, and over 3.5 km of corridors. Here is the British Parliament Chamber.

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    Stonehenge

    One of the most famous megalithic constructions in the world, located very close to London. These stones are over 5000 years old, and it is said to have been one of the most important religious centers of the Celts.

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    St. Paul's Cathedral

    With its 110 meters in height, it is the largest cathedral in the world. It was erected on a Christian temple dating back to the year 604.

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    Windsor Castle

    Located in Berkshire County, it is one of the three official residences of Queen Elizabeth II of England. It has been inhabited for over 900 years, becoming the second oldest inhabited royal residence in the world.

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    Dingle Peninsula

    This visit is a must. Enjoy privileged views by walking from Inch Beach to the cliffs of the Wild Atlantic Way, see the Aran Islands, and we assure you that you won’t be indifferent.

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    London Eye

    One of the most visited tourist attractions in London. This Ferris wheel, located on the banks of the Thames, rises more than 135 meters, offering a spectacular view of the city of London.

    Tips for living in the United Kingdom

    • Choosing the time of year to travel can save you some money or warm clothes. For example, the peak demand period when prices may be slightly higher is from June to October, precisely in the months with the best temperatures of the year.
    • We recommend that you start planning your trip about 3 months in advance.
    • When you come, it is ideal to stay in a hostel and look for your definitive accommodation from the United Kingdom. The good thing? Your Dingoos Guide will help you book your accommodation for the first few days.
    • In the United Kingdom, the common voltage is 230 V, the frequency is 50 Hz, and the plugs and sockets are type G, so you will need a power adapter to connect your electronic devices, such as your laptop.
    • Pack your suitcase with care and don’t forget to include warm and waterproof clothing.
    • You will need health insurance, but don’t worry, at Dingoos, we help you to contract it.
    • Use the Oyster Card to move around with public transportation.
    • In the United Kingdom, it is customary to tip 10-15%. Don’t be surprised to see this concept included in the bill, usually around 12.5%.
    • If you make English friends, it will be easier for you to improve your English even more.

    How do we help you at Dingoos?

    If you feel like spending some time studying English in the United Kingdom, at Dingoos, we are more than happy to help you with all the procedures completely free.


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    Enrollment in school

    We will help you find the course that best suits you in the city that interests you the most, and we will take care of managing your enrollment.

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    Visa processing

    We process your student visa so that you don't have to fill out any paperwork. All we will need is for you to pay the fees and provide us with some personal documents such as your passport.

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    Reception and integration

    We will be waiting for you upon arrival and will welcome you as one of our own. We want you to feel part of our community from your first day abroad and become a member of our #DingoosFamily.

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    Student Support Service

    Going abroad is about learning, growing, meeting new friends, doing thousands of things for the first time... it's about living intensely, and for us, it will always be a luxury to do it by your side!

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