On 4 July, polling stations across the UK will open at 7am and close at 10pm, allowing members of the public to cast their votes in the general election.

The political parties have released their manifestos, detailing the plans they would enact for the country should they win.

The policies on higher education and immigration will impact both local and international students.

The student vote is a powerful way to make your voice heard and to influence the policies that will shape the country for years to come.

The UK is holding a general election on Thursday 4 July 2024. This election allows voters to choose their local Member of Parliament (MP), who will represent their area in the House of Commons. The party with the most MPs will form the government, and its leader will become the country’s prime minister.

The University of Cambridge has secured the top position in the Complete University Guide 2025.

For any students considering becoming an architect in the UK, here are some tips to help you understand the qualification process. 

To register as an architect in the UK, there is a mandatory requirement to have completed a minimum of 24 months of professional practical experience, alongside gaining the typical parts 1, 2 and 3 qualifications. 

I’m currently studying a postgraduate degree in humanities at the University of Manchester in the UK. Before that, I was an undergraduate student at Western University in Canada. I ended up doing five years of undergraduate studies because I decided to do a six-month exchange at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland during my fourth year.  

From January 2024, international students coming to the UK will only be allowed to bring their dependants on their student visa if they are enrolled on specific postgraduate courses categorised as research programmes. These eligible programmes include PhDs, other doctoral qualifications, or master's programmes that involve research and the creation of original work.

Online, digital and app-based banks offer most of the services that traditional banks provide, but are entirely based online, meaning there are no in-person branches. Instead, you can apply to open an account online or via an app, and customer service and support is available over the internet or by phone.

A big advantage of online and app-based banks is that they offer many built-in budgeting features, including notifications on your spending, the ability to set savings goals and a personal budget, as well as easy money transfer and “split-the-bill” options.

In the UK, the NHS is the system that residents use to access both physical and mental healthcare services. Most healthcare services are free at the point of use, but some procedures may require additional payment. The NHS stands for the National Health Service.

So how does the NHS work for international students in the UK? 

This guide explains how international students can access NHS services, what costs are involved and how to register with the NHS as an international student.