Going to the UK to study will be the first time living alone for many students and also the first time living in the UK. Just as in every other country in the world, the UK has its own laws and general rules and principles which govern resident’s daily lives. This page explains a few important laws and rules that every overseas student should be aware of. Some will be common sense, some will be the same as in the student’s home country and others will be quite different.
Overseas students’ visas or the immigration stamp in their passport, made when they enter the UK, should state whether or not they need to register with the police. Students over the age of 16, arriving in the UK from China (excluding Hong Kong) and a list of other countries outside of the European Union, that intend to stay and study in the UK for more than six months must register themselves at their local police station within seven days of arriving in the UK. Students living in London need to go to the Overseas Visitors Records Office instead of a police station;
Overseas Visitors Records Office,
180 Borough High Street,
Borough,
London SE1 1LH
(open 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., Monday to Friday)
Students must take with them their passport, two passport-sized photographs and the necessary registration fee (about ￡30). Students must renew their registration whenever they change address or change or extend their student visa.
· Reporting crimes to the police
In cases of emergency only, students can telephone the police using the free-phone number 999. This number should only be dialed in an emergency when urgent police assistance is required. If students wish to report a crime or need to speak to the police for any other matter they should contact their local police station, either in person or by telephone (telephone numbers can be found in telephone directories and various other sources).
Everyone has a moral obligation to report crimes and suspected criminal activities to the police, for the betterment of the local community and society as a whole, and overseas students are no exception. Any student that witnesses a crime or suspects someone of being involved in illegal activities of any kind should report their suspicions to the police. Callers to the police can give their name and contact details or remain anonymous if they wish.
· Racial and sexual discrimination
The UK suffers relatively little in the way of racial and sexual inequality when compared to other developed and developing countries. However, matters of racial and sexual discrimination do still exist in some areas of British society.
There is a minority proportion of the UK’s population who believe that immigrants are destroying the traditional British way of life and that they pose a threat to British people in terms of terrorism or competition for local jobs. Luckily it is only a small percentage of British people that still hold on to such dated and backwards beliefs. Most British people are able to recognise the benefits that immigrants and a multicultural society brings to the UK both economically and culturally.
The UK has a number of laws and regulations that act to discourage and prevent any forms of racial or sexual discrimination.
Companies and employers in the UK that discriminate against their employees or customers because of their nationality, skin colour, religious beliefs or gender, or whose employees or customers suffer racial or sexual abuse from employees of a company that fails to take appropriate disciplinary action, can find themselves in a great deal of trouble and leave themselves open to legal prosecution.
“Racial hate crimes” in the UK carry much more severe punishments than similar crimes without any racial motivation. Simply making racist comments or gestures is enough to warrant a conviction and a criminal record in the UK.
· Plagiarism and cheating in exams and schoolwork
Plagiarism, the act of copying other people’s written work and text, is considered a serious offense in the UK by schools, colleges and universities alike, for students of all ages and levels of education. Much the same is true concerning cheating of any kind in formal examinations. Each institution will have its own set of procedures for dealing with students caught plagiarising or cheating in exams. Punishments will vary according to the age and level of the student, the nature of the transgression and the relevance of the exam or coursework being undertaken. Relatively minor transgressions by younger students might only lead to minor punishments such as detentions or the removal of certain privileges. More serious offenses committed by older students can lead to temporary suspensions or even permanent expulsions from an institution.
Even if copying work and cheating in exams is common place and not severely punished in a student’s home country, students should never attempt to commit any such transgressions while studying in the UK as the chances of being caught are very high and the consequences can be very serious and irreversible. In the long term as well as the short term, it is better to study hard rather than try to gain an unfair advantage.
Note that UCAS, the universities and colleges admissions service in the UK, checks every personal statement on every UCAS application form for plagiarism using advanced computer software and techniques. UCAS will inform each college and university that a student believed to be guilty of plagiarism has applied to. The institutions then take whatever action they consider to be appropriate.
The UK has a comprehensive and complex set of laws governing employment, income tax and employee rights.
For non-EU overseas students in the UK under student visas, permission is given to work part-time, up to 20 hours/week, during term time and full-time during holiday periods. They may not engage in business, be self-employed or take a full-time permanent position. Overseas students that complete degree level courses in the UK are also permitted to remain in the UK after their studies to work full-time, for up to two years. As employers in the UK face high penalties for employing illegal foreign workers they may ask overseas students to prove their identity, visa status and permission to work in the UK, when applying for jobs.
If a student earns more than a certain amount in any tax year they will have to pay income tax. Employees and employers both have to pay national insurance contributions. Employers might ask students to provide a “national insurance number (NINo)”. This can be obtained by contacting the nearest Jobcentre office or calling this number, 0845 600 0643 to arrange an appointment. Note that students do not need to apply for a NINo until they have been offered a job.
UK employment laws cover many areas such as minimum wage, statutory sick pay, unfair dismissals, workplace discrimination, etc.
For more information about UK employment laws, see www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm.
For more information about UK income tax and national insurance, see www.hmrc.gov.uk.
· Alcohol, tobacco and narcotics laws
The minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco in the UK is 16. Smoking is prohibited in most indoor public places in the UK including, but not limited to, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, bars, internet cafes, night clubs, cinemas, theatres, casinos, sports stadiums and all forms of public transport, including over ground and underground trains and stations, airplanes and airports, on buses, coaches and in taxis. Smoking is permitted in most outdoor public areas, in private dwellings and vehicles.
The minimum legal age for purchasing alcohol in the UK is 18. It is illegal to drink alcohol on the streets or in public areas. It is also a criminal offence to behave improperly in public whilst intoxicated, referred to as being,”drunk and disorderly”. Drinking a small amount of alcohol (about one glass of wine) is permitted before driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol is very dangerous and carries very heavy penalties, so NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
It is a serious criminal offence to be found in possession of even small amounts of narcotics. Overseas students that have illegal drugs found on their person or in their private vehicle, room or home will likely have their immigration status revoked and be forced to leave the UK. There is a possibility that older students at colleges and universities in the UK will be exposed to drugs and some students might be tempted to experiment with them, especially under pressure from friends and peers. The best advice to anyone in this situation is to simply say, “NO”. Taking drugs can have serious health side effects as well as other dire consequences.
Guns and firearms are completely banned in the UK. It is a very serious criminal offence for anyone to be found with an illegal firearm on their person or in their vehicle or home. In addition, it is illegal for anyone to carry or be in possession of knives or other dangerous weapons, outside of their private residence.
Anyone that feels they need to carry some form of protection with them whenever they go out on their own late at night is advised to carry a high pitched personal alarm or a mace spray.
· Private vehicles and driving regulations
For information about private vehicle ownership and driving in the UK, see the section "Private vehicles" on the Travel (domestic) page or see www.dvla.gov.uk.
Students might require legal advice in various instances, from something as simple as making sure they get their accommodation deposit fully returned from their former landlord to more serious matters such as court appearances for criminal offences.
Naturally, it is hoped that overseas students will never have any need for legal advice, but if it is needed, there are a few sources of free information that might be worth investigating prior to paying for a solicitor. Students can check with their institution’s Student Union to see if they can offer any assistance, they can contact their nearest Citizens Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk), who can provide a wealth of information and advice about various legal matters, or find a local free law centre.
In the UK consumers have the right to return faulty, damaged or poor quality goods to the place of purchase. The consumer will need to take the item(s) back within the stated guarantee period with the original receipt or other proof of purchase. The shop is then obliged to offer the customer either a replacement product or a refund. Hence it is important to keep all receipts whenever making any purchases. Anyone that feels that a shop or service company has treated them poorly or unfairly and wishes to make a complaint, can contact their local Office of Fair Trade or their nearest Citizens Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk).
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