For college grads with an offer from a British university, August marks the final month of preparing to emerge into a whole new linguistic and cultural context. Apart from routine tasks such as applying for a visa and buying flight tickets, there are some other important tasks that students need to finish before setting off in order to have a smooth ride in their host country.
对于收到英国大学录取通知的大学毕业生来说，刚刚过去的八月，他们正抓紧时间为进入一个全新的语言文化环境做最后的准备。为了保证在异国他乡一切顺利，出国之前，除了申请签证和购买机票这样的例行公事之外，留学生们还有其他的一些重要“功课”要做。
Finance
资金方面
Currency differences and related regulation mean it’s important to consider how to bring money into the destination country. The most common solutions are taking cash, or using bank drafts, traveler’s cheques, wire transfers and credit cards.
货币不同以及相关规定，意味着你要着重考虑如何把钱带到目的国。最常见的方法就是携带现金或者使用银行汇票、旅行支票、电汇和信用卡。

These solutions all involve exchanging RMB into a foreign currency, therefore professionals suggest that students follow their target currency’s exchange rate in order to get a better price.
以上这些方法都需要你将人民币兑换成外币，因此专业人士建议学生们留意外币汇率，以便以较低的价格买进。
“Timing is important when buying a foreign currency,” Qiu Di, director of the fortune management center at a Beijing-based local branch of the Bank of China, told Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.
来自中国银行北京支行的资产管理中心主任丘迪（音译）在接受《潇湘晨报》访问时表示：“兑换外币的时机十分重要。”
For example, if the exchange rate of the RMB against the US dollar is going up, it’s wise to buy US dollars as late as possible, and vice versa. Some smartphone applications can help students follow the trend.

例如，如果人民币对美元汇率走高，兑换美元越晚越好，如果人民币对美元汇率走低，就要尽早兑换美元。一些智能手机的应用软件也可以帮助学生密切注意汇率走势。

Qiu suggests students start checking the exchange rate six months ahead of their departure date. If the exchange rate fluctuates and students aren’t sure about its trend, “they should exchange several times to minimize the risk,” he said.
丘迪建议留学生们在出发前，要提前半年开始关注汇率。如果汇率浮动，无法确定其走势，那么“他们就应分次兑换，以使风险最小化。”
After choosing the best time comes selecting the best place. Though the People’s Bank of China sets the exchange rate, different banks offer slightly different rates, so it’s best to compare them before making a purchase.
择时之后便要择地了。尽管汇率由中国人民银行统一制定，但不同银行之间的汇率也会有细微差别，因此最好还是在出手之前“货比三家”。

Taking the money abroad is another tricky task. Although taking it in cash seems to be the easiest way, it’s neither safe nor practical. According to Chinese law, anyone going abroad can carry no more than the equivalent of 5,000 US dollars in foreign currency without permission.
携带现金出境则是另一件棘手的事。尽管携带现金看似最简便，但是这样既不安全也不实用。根据我国法律，出境人员未经许可不得携带超过等值五千美金以上的外币。
Therefore, professionals recommend that students incorporate several solutions: Bring cash that covers the living costs for the first several weeks, use a bank draft, traveler’s cheques or a wire transfer to pay for the tuition fees, and take a credit card in case of an emergency.
因此，专业人士建议学生综合多种方法：携带足以维持前几周生活费的现金，以银行汇票、旅行支票或电汇的方式支付学费，带上信用卡以防万一。

Study
学习方面
In order to graduate with a preferable mark, students need to be well prepared academically. According to the British Council, courses in the UK are often in the form of lectures, seminars and tutorials. This approach to teaching allows students to absorb new knowledge and discuss ideas with the professor or their peers.
为了以优异成绩毕业，学生在学业方面需要准备充分。据英国大使馆文化教育处透露，英国的授课方式通常包括课堂授课、研讨班以及辅导课。这种教学方法可以让学生有机会吸收新知识，并与教授或同学交流观点。
Chinese students, however, many of whom are only familiar with lectures, tend to neglect the importance of seminars and tutorials. They don’t actively participate in seminar discussions and don’t make full use of the tutorials. “What they don’t know is that daily performance often makes up as much as 40 percent of a student’s final score. This is largely determined by students’ performance in seminars and the outcome of tutorial sessions,” said Lin Ying, manager of the UK department at Beijing JJL Overseas Education Consulting and Services Co Ltd.
而许多中国学生只熟悉面授这种授课形式，因此忽视了研讨班和辅导课的重要性。他们参与研讨班讨论的积极性不高，也没有充分利用辅导课。北京金吉列出国留学咨询服务有限公司英国部经理林颖（音译）说道：“学生们还不知道，日常表现通常占据学生最终成绩的百分之四十，这点很大程度上由学生在研讨班的表现以及辅导课成果来决定。”

Packing
行李方面
Packing is always a tough task for people who are going to travel far. This is especially true for students, since they are going to live in a foreign country.
收拾行囊对于远行之人来说总是件头疼的事。对于留学生尤为如此，因为他们即将开始异国生活。
Many overseas education agencies provide a list of things students should bring to their destination country. Though these vary, they all mention that important documents should be kept in carry-on luggage. Students should also keep several copies of these documents in their check-in luggage.
很多留学机构都为留学生提供了一份行李清单。尽管内容各异，但都不约而同地提到了重要文件应放在手提行李中这点。学生们还应将这些文件的复印件放到托运行李中。

Other things students should take with them are any personal electronic devices, some clothes and shoes, and medicine. The British Council strongly recommends students take a list of emergency contacts and a list of everything they bring with them, just in case they get lost or lose their luggage.
其他的行李包括电子设备、衣物、鞋子和药品。英国大使馆文化教育处强烈建议学生列出紧急联络电话和所携带物品完整清单，以防迷路或行李丢失等不时之需。
Many students wonder if they should bring cooking devices with them, such as rice cookers and knives, for example. Lin Ying, manager of the UK department at Beijing JJL Overseas Education Consulting and Services Co Ltd, says students should buy these things after they arrive in the destination country. “It is easy to buy these things in British supermarkets. Besides, students can always buy second-hand cooking devices from their upperclassmen,” she said.
很多学生想知道自己是否应该携带电饭锅、菜刀等厨具。北京金吉列出国留学咨询服务有限公司英国部经理林颖表示，学生应在抵达目的国后购买这些物品。她还说:“英国超市里，这些物品都是很容易买到的。除此之外，学生们总能够从学长那里购买二手厨具。”

Accommodation
住宿方面
There are two common accommodation options, namely university accommodation and private accommodation.
通常有两种住宿供选择，即大学宿舍和自己租房。
If your course lasts for more than one year, you will be eligible for the former. If you apply in advance, the university will offer you a bedroom in a hall of residence, which has a member of staff living on the premises. Normally, the bedroom consists of a bed, desk, bookshelves and sometimes a sink. Other facilities, such as the kitchen and bathroom, are shared with the other tenants. Most halls have a lounge or a common room where students can chat and watch TV together.
如果你的学业要持续一年以上，那么就可以申请大学宿舍。如果提前申请，学校会分给你一间位于学生公寓的房间。这个房间通常配有一张床、一张书桌、书架，有时还设有盥洗室。你需要与室友共用厨房和浴室等其他设施。多数宿舍楼设有休息室或是公共休息室，以供学生聚在一起聊天，看电视。

If you’re not eligible for university accommodation or you prefer a more cost effective solution, you can choose private accommodation. Students can get “to let” information from the university welfare office, adverts around campus or on the Internet, and local estate agents. If you plan to rent, think about the utility costs, such as gas electricity and water, before you pay the deposit and sign the contract. According to Chen Jianqian, senior consultant at Amber Education, these costs can be high but are often overlooked by students.
如果你无法申请大学宿舍，或者追求更经济的住宿方式，那么你可以选择租房。学生可从大学后勤办公室、校内广告、网上或是当地房屋中介这些地方获取招租信息。如果你打算租房，应在交定金、签合同之前考虑一下水电等公共设施费用。琥珀教育集团高级顾问陈倩倩（音译）表示，这些费用有时很高，却经常被学生忽视。
Chen suggests students take photos of the accommodation before they move in. “There have been cases in which landlords charged students for not maintaining their accommodation properly, but because the students didn’t take photos they couldn’t refute the claims,” she said.
陈倩倩建议学生在入住之前拍照留存。她说：“有些情况下，房东会以学生没有保持房况为由收取费用，但是由于学生没有拍照留证，因此百口莫辩。”