Articles about the United Kingdom

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There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for settling into expat life in a new country, but here are a few helpful articles and personal stories that may help make your move a little easier.

Interview with Diane – an American expat living in the UK

Born an athlete, Diane Huntington Loring decided to leave her business and athletic pursuits in the USA to pursue new academic adventures on the other side of the world. She’s currently pursuing her PhD studies at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. When she’s not busy working on her… Read more

The top 3 trends shaping international education in 2024

The 2023 Council of British International Schools (COBIS) Annual Research Survey revealed that approximately 25 percent of international schools are dedicating time to teaching students responsible artificial intelligence (AI) use, and almost 44 percent more intend to do the same in the future.This… Read more

5 steps to prepare expats for UK private school applications

Duncan Quirk, Founder and Director of Top School Guide, shares a step-by-step walkthrough for expat parents looking to make private school applications in the UK. For parents who are relocating to the UK and can afford the high fees (ranging from GBP 15,000 to GBP 30,000 annually) for… Read more

How Volunteering Can Help New City Residents Adjust to Life in London

Southbank International School believes that developing strong citizenship through its International Baccalaureate curriculum and volunteer programmes leads to a sense of belonging and generates valuable connections in a new city. Read on to hear more about this excellent programme from… Read more

Why UK universities prefer the IB Diploma over A-Levels

ICS London Head of School Alec Jiggins shares why expat parents should consider an IB Diploma over A-Levels.It may come as a surprise to British and expat families in the UK who are accustomed to the A-Level curriculum, but increasingly, UK universities prefer students who have completed… Read more

Interview with Daniel – a Scottish repatriate

Hailing from Glasgow, UK and having grown up in Cape Town, South Africa, Daniel describes himself as "a medical student and children’s illustrator born in two different places". After more than a decade in South Africa, he moved back up north to Edinburgh and then to Glasgow for his studies. In… Read more

Third-culture kids – a head teacher’s perspective

ICS London Head of School David Laird shares the importance of understanding third-culture kids.In an increasingly globalised world, where jobs can take families to far-flung lands, parents often want to ensure their children maintain a sense of stability, community and a rooted identity.… Read more

Will Brexit spell the end of a powerful British passport?

The British passport has been one of the most powerful in the world for years, but though it remains in the top 10 for now, it has been steadily declining since the Brexit referendum in 2016.Fading powersIt wasn’t that long ago – between 2013 and 2015 – that the UK held the most powerful passport… Read more

Five reasons why expats should move to Manchester instead of London

Allison relocated to the UK from Canada on a Youth Mobility Visa and was drawn to Manchester, where she found work with the National Health Service. Keep reading to find out why Allison believes Manchester trumps London in five key aspects.Even a year after I moved to Manchester, I… Read more

Interview with Allison – a Canadian expat living in Manchester

Allison is a 29-year-old Canadian expat who has just finished two years on a Youth Mobility Visa in Manchester. Most of Allison’s experience has been working in public relations, but she has taken a two-year career break to work with the National Health Service. On the weekends, Allison … Read more

What are QROPS Pensions and are they suitable for me?

QROPS are a type of offshore pension which is recognised by the British authorities (HMRC) as being eligible to receive transfers from UK-registered pension plans. Expatriates living abroad can transfer both company and personal pension funds into a QROPS, providing an annuity has not been… Read more

What are QNUPS pensions?

QNUPS enable British expats to save tax in their country of residence and on inheritance tax, not to be confused with Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS).QNUPS are particularly suited to retired expatriates who can draw both an income and lump sums from the pension during… Read more

Finances 101 for UK Immigrants

If you are immigrating to the UK to live and work, you will be learning a lot of new day-to-day tasks: you may be driving on the other side of the road, speaking another language and, certainly, walking unfamiliar streets. At the same time, you may need to learn new ways of managing and using your… Read more

Five Money-Saving Tips for Making the Move to the UK

Moving to the UK can be a fairly expensive experience, particularly if you’re moving to a major city such as London or Manchester.However, there are several ways to keep the costs down, and whether you’re moving over to the UK from America, Europe or another part of the world, these money… Read more

Book review: Far Away and Further Back

“History is constantly being created, and new manifestations will eventually be looked at with the same sentimentality and wistfulness as those that happened to precede them…”Far Away and Further Back traces the experiences of German-English expat Patrick Burns as he navigates life as… Read more

Expat parenting tips: how to help your child through exam season

Family homes become powder kegs during exam season, and sparks may fly. But recent research suggests that parents may be more stressed than children – and if the family has recently moved to a new country, this can certainly be expected to raise stress levels. Inevitably, parental anxieties, even… Read more

The Challenges of Higher Education Choices for Expat Students

The majority of international school students won’t seek their studies in higher education in their host country. As a result, one of the most pressing concerns for parents with children at the secondary school level as they move abroad or from one host country to another as expats is… Read more

Five Action-Packed Reasons to Be an Expat in the UK

Great Britain is a country famed for its picture-perfect countryside, love of queues and unwavering etiquette – but thrill-seekers will be pleased to learn the UK has a lot to offer when it comes to action-packed activities. From white-knuckle adventure sports to weird and wonderful wildlife… Read more

International Divorce – The Facts and What to Consider

Divorce is never easy for anyone involved; however, things can become even more complicated when there is an international element. International divorce is a particularly complex field, as certain factors such as financial outcomes differ enormously from country to country. Before we get into… Read more

Interview with Kimberley – an American expat living in London

Kimberley Mueller is an American expat who moved to London in September 2014 after spending most of her life in New York and Washington. While she acknowledges having to make some small adjustments when moving from the USA, the pros of efficient public transport, opportunities to travel around… Read more

Brits Abroad: How to Become an Eccentric Expat

Waving goodbye to the motherland can be an exciting time for any Brit - but while setting up home in a different country promises new experiences and adventures, it’s not without its challenges. From leaving behind the traditional taste of fish and chips to overcoming the loss of your accent, the… Read more

Moving with your pets to the UK and EU countries

Travelling internationally with your pets can add an extra level of stress to an already high-pressure transition, as even the most dedicated pet owners aren’t born with the knowledge it takes to plan a safe and smooth pet relocation. Luckily, help is available in the form of online resources,… Read more

Connecting Currency with TorFX

Whether you’re moving to Australia or Vietnam, the handy guides, articles and information supplied by Expat Arrivals can make starting a new life overseas that bit simpler.We know that getting to grips with unfamiliar territory, like managing international currency transfers, can be daunting… Read more

Doing Business in London – A Guide for Expat Entrepreneurs

London is an international city famous for its business and cultural diversity; from bankers to fashion designers and Information Technology to creative industries. These businesses can be found in many shapes and sizes all over London; solopreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, large… Read more

Book Review: B at Home: Emma Moves Again

With B at Home: Emma Moves Again, Valérie Besanceney has done much more than simply write another book on Third Culture Kids (TCKs). She has found how to reach younger children in a story that speaks directly to them. Narrated from two points of view (Emma and her bear, B) B at… Read more

Book Review: 100 Reasons to Live Abroad and 100 Reasons Not To

101 Reasons to Live Abroad and 100 Reasons Not To is, as the title suggests, an examination of the pros and cons of moving overseas. Should you stay or should you go? Moving abroad is not a decision that should be taken lightly, and the author, Chris Alden, provides a comprehensive… Read more

Interview with Danielle – a Canadian expat living in Scotland

Danielle Sasaki moved to Scotland three and half years ago from her hometown of Winnipeg in Canada to start a new chapter in her life with her Scottish husband. Danielle works as a school teacher and, in her spare time, enjoys running and blogging about her expat experience.Find out more about… Read more

How emigrating from the UK affects your pension rights

A range of exciting destinations is open to those who wish to retire or work abroad. Before taking the plunge, it’s important to plan for the financial implications of moving overseas. One of the most important of these is the effect of emigrating on your UK pension.Private pensionsIf you’re not… Read more

Moving Abroad – Tax Considerations for UK Nationals

From finding a new home and choosing schools to packing up and moving house, there are so many things to consider when moving abroad that many people overlook some important tax considerations. With this in mind, we have put together this short guide. More specific advice should be sought from your… Read more

Raising children in the UK: advice about the British schooling system from an expat parent

Meghan Fenn is an American expat living in Britain and the author of Bringing Up Brits: Expat Parents Raising Cross-Cultural Kids in Britain. Here, she offers her take on the British schooling system and what to consider when raising your children as an expat in the United… Read more

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