One of the biggest most potentially embarrassing differences in Canadian versus British English is the use of the term “pants”. In fact, you may want to start practicing now just to ensure you get the hang of things before you step foot in the UK and inevitably end up telling someone that you like their pants. In the UK, pants refers to underpants and only underpants. Trousers. The word you are looking for when referring to your longer leg coverings is trousers. Just keep practicing and you’ll get the hang of it. Moreover, you also shouldn’t be offended if someone asks you for a rubber. They need an erasure to fix a written mistake, they aren’t propositioning you for something else.  

Beyond these two major points of conflicting terminology, there are a great many other British terms and sayings that you’ll want to be familiar with to avoid getting lost in conversation.
 

1. Sod’s Law 

You’ll likely hear variations on a reference to Sod’s Law such as “Sod all” and “Sod it”. Sod’s law is bit of an extreme variation on Murphy’s law, which you may be more familiar with. The essence of Sod’s Law is that whatever can go wrong will go wrong and in the worst possible way.
 

2. “You okay?” or “You alright?”

Don’t be alarmed if you are frequently greeted with these phrases in the UK. No, you don’t look poorly (sick) or ragged, this is just the British equivalent to asking “How are you?” The typical British response is to issue a short and positive response (“yeah” or “yes”) and reciprocate the question (“and you?”). One derivative of this would be when you are asked the same thing by a server or bartender in a restaurant or pub in which case they are asking you whether you’d like to order anything in which case you should respond accordingly.
 

3. Knackered, Zonked, or Buggered and needing a kip

All of these just mean you are plain old exhausted or tired out and needing a nap. Careful if you try to used buggered though, there are other variations on this phrase that have very different meanings. Knackered is pretty universally used though so it’s a good choice if you’re unsure.

4. Pudding

Another word that you think you are familiar with but has a quite different meaning when used in the UK. “Pudding” in the UK essentially refers to all desserts or more generally the sweet treat you have after supper. You can have fruit for pudding or cake for pudding or biscuits for pudding etc. The goopy sweet mixture that we call pudding in Canada would actually be called “custard” in the UK. And just to ensure your confusion, you may find one night that you do indeed have custard for pudding.
 

5. Waffle

Hopefully you won’t hear this regarding any of your academic work, but if you do get told to stop waffling, it typically means you are running on with little or no direction. Many students are guilty of this in early drafts of their dissertations when they gape at their expected word count and wonder how in the world they’ll ever write that much on one topic. But don’t worry, once you get into the thick of your research you’ll find yourself easily editing out all of your waffling bits.

6. Cuppa

This term is fairly simple and a shortened way to say "cup of tea". The most common phrasing for this one is "fancy a cuppa?" If you hear this during your studies or travels throughout the UK, the one asking the question is asking you if you'd like a cup of tea. Depending on your mood, you can accept or decline, though tea is always a nice addition to a "chat".

We will send all of our students enrolling at UK unis predeparture guidelines in the summer.  When we do, be sure to check them out--they will include many other helpful tips for preparing for your studies. It has a plethora of British terminology and slang incorporated throughout!

The UK is filled with history and incredible sights, making it a great place to live and travel. That being said, one of the big perks of living in the UK is its great position for affordable travel around Europe and elsewhere. There are so many fabulous destinations in a short flight radius, and with the rise of budget airlines, escaping for a short break between classes has never been more doable. So, what’s the best way to plan an escape from your homework?
 

Planes, trains, and busses... oh my!

The cheapest way to travel out of the UK is by plane and by bus. Trains can be much more expensive, but I generally find them to be the most comfortable mode of transport. The rule of the game in train tickets is to book early – usually you will find that tickets drastically increase in price as the date approaches.

Buses will generally take you longer, but if you’ve got a little spare time on your hands it can save you a lot of money. Bus routes connect most cities in Europe and are a great way to get around, especially in countries with less substantial train systems. Try reputable companies like Flixbus (which has a great app) and Student Agency.
 

With flights, be flexible about your destination and dates

The best way to nab a cheap flight is to be flexible with your trip. Over my November reading break I ended up in Sardinia, Italy, because that was the cheapest ticket I could find to a place with a beach (£50 round trip, isn’t that wild?). Websites like Skyscanner and Google Flights will helpfully provide you with travel inspiration that fits your window. If you already know the place you want to end up, search the site to find the best travel dates for that route.

Booking flights can be somewhat of a gamble – sometimes booking in advance is the best way to guarantee your cheap flight, but it’s usually possible to score last minute deals if you’re flexible.
 

How to make the trip work

Whether you’re the type to plan your entire trip in advance, or if you (like me) are more the last minute-type, you’re bound to have a fantastic experience. I generally book hostels when I’m travelling alone as they’re a great way to meet people and feel safe abroad. Airbnb is a great alternative if you’re traveling with a group of friends and would like some space to yourselves.

My friends and I were desperate to sneak away during reading break, but we’re also law students with a pile of homework. So, we booked an entire boat on Airbnb in Sardinia and sprawled our homework out for days on the table. We had our study breaks adventuring around the island and cooking pasta. It was the perfect way to mix studies and travels.

One of my favourite parts about living in London is the opportunity for further travel abroad. I haven’t decided on my next London-escape yet, but I have my eye on Copenhagen and Morocco. Travels like these really add depth to an already fantastic experience in London. If you need to write a paper, you may as well write it in an Italian café, right?
 

What sparked the idea

The decision to move to the UK was a big step and I took a long time to determine whether it was the right move for me. I started looking into the process part way through my undergraduate degree; I was studying abroad in Australia and I had fallen in love with the experience of studying in a different place. I suppose a shorter study abroad was like a test-run for an entire degree in a new country. I had the opportunity to experience a different education system, travel on my breaks, and meet people from all over the world. My personal-growth over that period was incredible, and I was hooked. I wanted to do it all again, but for longer next time.

It was around that time that I had decided I wanted to go to law school. It fit perfectly with my vision of further study abroad and I began to research the process of applying in several different countries. I had actually contacted Across the Pond at this stage, having very early discussions about my plans and what options were available for me in the UK. They were around for the entire, lengthy, process!
 

Why I ultimately chose the UK over Canada

I strongly considered study in both countries, and I took the decision very seriously. Ultimately, the UK offered a far more interesting and affordable route to becoming lawyer than I would find in Canada. The application process for law school in Canada is long, expensive, and demanding; every university has their own entrance requirements, essay questions, and huge fees for applying. That of course doesn’t include the challenge and expense of writing the LSAT. Online forums are full of students who have spent thousands of dollars on the process and never received an acceptance. The universities are becoming ever more competitive, and I wasn’t excited by the prospect of ending up in the city I had lived in for most of my life. I figured that if you’re going to put yourself through the challenge of law school, you should be excited about every aspect of being there.

In a pleasant comparison, applying for university in the UK was streamlined and easy to follow. The process includes only one application, one far lower fee, and the ability to apply to up to five schools at once. Across the Pond was extremely helpful with this, and even put together my application for me. And I was excited about it all – I knew that whichever school I eventually attended, I would have the opportunity for an incredible new experience.
 

Some pros and cons

I have a large collection of pros and cons lists for just about every aspect of this experience. Here, I’ve distilled what I found to be the most significant elements of both sides.

Cons:

• I already have a degree, and as law is an undergraduate degree in the UK, I’ve returned to classes with an average age about 5 years younger than myself.
• The UK education system is very exam-heavy, and the semesters are longer.
• The weather isn’t exactly tropical.
• It can be extremely hard to leave family and friends.
• International student fees.

But… Pros:

• The senior status program is available at many Across the Pond partner universities. It allows me to complete a law degree in only two years, significantly reducing my course and living fees.
• Access to incredible, high ranking universities with historic backgrounds and diverse program opportunities.
• The ability to travel around Europe for wildly affordable rates.
• Although the distance can feel far, there are many direct flights between Canada and the UK. Visits home are extremely doable.

The choice to study in the UK is a big one, but ultimately, I didn’t find it to be a difficult one. The opportunity to travel, experience a different culture and educational system, and meet new people from all over the world captured me. If you would like to find out more about studying in the UK, please contact one of our Across the Pond Student Advisors.