Assalamualaikum.
For months after finals in MICET I have been preparing the documents and stuff to UK. The times I had to follow mum to KL are countless. Listed are just a few steps.
The documents are:
1. Passport. First things first, you just can't proceed with anything without it. Make sure to bring a document stating you're going abroad to study. For my case, it's MARA agreement or, university conditional offer letter will do.
2. ATAS certificate. The online application is just complicated and such a nuisance. Not to mention, you have to be very careful with the modules you'll taking. It takes you up to 20 working days for the certificate. Mine took less than that but mind you, my friend got it only after a 6 weeks. Worrying! And stressful!
3. CAS Statement. You'll get this usually after you received the unconditional offer letter from the university you'll be attending. It's very important!
4. TB Test. There are only 6 health centres that are recognised by the UK goverment, nearest to me is the Lifecare in Bangsar South. So, situ je buat. It cost about RM210.
5. Medical Checkup. You could just download the form kalau MARA or you scholar bagi lambat. It's always the same borang for MARA. Doing it together with TB test can save you a few puluh ringgit!
6.
The Ultimate VISA. Yes, to get this done. You have a list of things to settle, such as above! Well, nowadays ade appointment je, no more walk ins. My time, I had to pay $530. I'm sure this will increase. And mind you, it is only for the process. If anything goes wrong throughout the process, guess you'll have to pay double (the second time), just like my friend. It depends on the date and time you apply the visa, I advice you to go 10 to 12 in the morning. Not so many people, you can end everything by an hour or less. The process? Easy. Go to 3rd floor, hand in your documents for checking purpose then proceed to 19th floor. You'll be called twice. Once to hand over the documents, second time for biometrics purpose. Then done. Wait for a week, you'll receive 2 emails. One from Manila, saying your visa will be despatched and another saying your visa reach the application centre.
And I highly recommend you to just stay outside the campus.
It's way cheaperrrr! Uni accommodation can cost up to GBP 500 while staying outside paling mahal pun GBP 300. Tu pun actually expensive. Memang tak inclusive internet, gas and electricity. But why pay for the public kitchenette, living room, common rooms and facilities when you're not gonna use it often pun. And the local people makes a lot of noise, they're very loud. Not to forget, partied really hard.
My group from UniKL had to attend 3 camps. Banyak sangat camp that we called it as BTN 1.0 (the real one), BTN 2.0 (the islamic one, plus keselamatan negara) and BTN 3.0 (pre departure that turns out to be like a vaca for us). Sumpah tak masuk akal, but we went anyway.
All pictures from BTN 1.0
