Edinburgh

Why do many people like to go on a study tour to UK colleges and Universities? What do you know about education system in UK? Like many other countries United Kingdom has developed and diversified education system foe school graduates and those who want to get further or higher education. The incredible number of colleges and universities offers thousands of courses and subjects to study. Thus, it is very important to be well-oriented in education institutions diversity to choose the right one which will suite your interests and further career best. First, there is a difference between further education and higher education. Further education is provided by colleges and gives a number of special qualifications such as Business Study, Engineering, Catering etc. They are specially designed for basic knowledge study, which is an integral part of further education and special subject study. Often further education students are able to combine a few subjects and get two or three certificates accordingly. Most further education students are adults who are above 21 years old. They prefer to study part-time and go to work while studying. Anyway, it is your choice whether you will study full-time or part-time. Usually part-time jobs allow further education students cover their tuition fees expenses. UK educational institutions are divided into state and private colleges and universities. Some decades ago state colleges and universities considerably differed from each other, especially in education funding system and costs. Nowadays both types of institutions have high tuition fees and smaller amount of grants, University Access Funds and student loans assistance programs. Universities UK provide a wide range of subjects and qualifications to study. Education programmes at universities include lectures, seminars, workshops, trainings and practices. Some of them even organize working experience for a year or less. High tuition fees cover access to university books, software and computers. Be aware of ALL university facilities before applying for study: you must know well what you will have for your big money! Although higher education requires much study, research, writing and reading the most study process is independent; lectures, seminars and workshops take much less time than self-research and study. Of course you will be signed your own individual tutor who will guard your study and control your results, but be ready to become a self-organized student who plans his education process himself. All universities and even further education colleges in UK have specially assigned consultants who provide all information which you need. They are happy to consult you even in your private matters. However, it would be better to check the university or college environment by yourself. For example, such aspects as social environment, college/university city or town society, availability of night clubs, sports clubs or beaches play a significant role in our life. City/town living standards will help you count your accommodation and living expenses; remember, you are going to spend a couple of years there! Each year both private and state universities reduce their financial assistance, state and university grants cover only about 10 percent of education fees. Find out as much as possible about financial aid availabilities, at least you can apply for student education loans system. This system is the easiest way for funding education in UK now. However, you should remember it is repayable and sometimes has high interest ratio which expands to 20 years for paybacks to be affordable.

If you want to enjoy a Scottish vacation in Skye and the Highlands of Scotland, you must first visit the capital city of the country:  Edinburgh.  Although Glasgow is the largest city in the country, in terms of both population and area, Edinburgh has the history and exudes a sense of times past in every street you walk.

A personal tour of the Royal Mile is a must for any traveler to this historic city.  The Royal Mile runs from Edinburgh Castle, that overlooks the city from the top of a volcanic plug, right down the detritus left by the last ice age to Holyrood Palace, the ancient seat of Scottish kings and queens, and the one-time home of Mary, Queen of Scots.

However, there is more in the Royal Mile than just that. Underneath the current streets lies an underground town:  the original town of Edinburgh, and one that is said to be haunted. The most famous Ghostbusters of the modern day have failed to prove that the spirits haunting this part of Edinburgh are figments of the imagination – in fact many have run screaming from the vaults underneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.  None have dared to claim the hauntings to be false.

You can visit these vaults – if you are brave enough – but only under the guidance of Edinburgh’s experienced guides that know where it is safe to take you – and where you dare not visit for fear of your sanity. Edinburgh is the ghost capital of Europe, if not the world, and if it is your desire to meet them, then the choice will not be yours:  it will be theirs at a time and place of their choosing. So sleep well during your Scottish vacation and do not awaken in the night!

On a lighter vein, once you have left Edinburgh you should head for Fort William, nestled under the highest mountain in Britain – Ben Nevis.  Small by American standards, but high enough at 4,500 ft.  One man pushed a piano up Ben Nevis right to the summit. It is said the remains are still there – the piano’s, not the man’s. You can take a gondola ride up there and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Grampian mountain range.

However, before you get there, you must stop at Loch Fyne on the way, since this loch is famous for its fish, kippers and oysters that you can taste at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar. You will also pass Loch Lomond, the longest fresh water Loch in Scotland, and also the most beautiful. Stop in Luss, on the banks of Loch Lomond, for a pint of beer and a visit to the bagpipe and kilt shop – they will send your purchases back home for you.

When you are in Fort William, don’t miss Glencoe to the south.  This was the scene of the massacre of the MacDonalds by the Campbells in 1692 – it is an eerie and dangerous place and still said to be haunted by the ghosts of the MacDonalds. The MacDonalds had acted as hosts to the Campbells that winter, feeding and entertaining them for a week, and then were slaughtered during one night on the behest of the English king. No Scottish vacation is complete without a visit to Glencoe.

Some scenes of the Harry Potter films were shot here, and you can also visit bleak Rannoch Moor close by, where many of the MacDonalds froze to death on that terrible night. There is still a feud between these two clans because of this betrayal, and the ghosts of the Macdonalds still walk the moor, waiting for any unwary Campbell to walk by.  To this day no Campbell dare walk the moor or the Glen at night. 

If your name is not Campbell, you can now get the ferry boat to the Hebridean island of Skye, and perhaps visit Dunvegan Castle, where the remnants of the Fairy Flag can be seen – the flag taken by the MacDonalds into every battle they fought. If you get the chance, travel round Skye and the other islands by boat and enjoy the beautiful Red Hills to the east of the island and the brooding Cuillan in the west.

You should then leave Skye over the new bridge that replaced the ferry from Kyleakin to the Kyle of Lochalsh, and head off down the Caledonian Canal route to Loch Ness. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to see the Loch Ness monster.  Not many are, but I have ridden its back and it’s an enormous beast.  However, I have been sworn to secrecy or I will disappear.

If you like your drink, or just a wee dram, stop off at one of the distilleries on Speyside.  The Spey is the river that meets the Atlantic at Inverness, and is one of the purest rivers in Scotland. The whisky it produces is like nectar, and Glenlivet, Glen Grant and the Macallan are just three of the most famous of the 38 single malts distilled in this area.  Each of them allows you to visit the distillery and taste the product.  Don’t stop at them all or you will never reach your next hotel!

If you are lucky enough to get this far after the Edinburgh Vaults, Glencoe and Rannoch Moor, you will pass through the ancient Caledonian forest which is the nearest existing forest to the prehistoric carboniferous forests that produced the coal, oil and gas that we now rely upon for power.  It is said that unknown creatures walk this ancient forest at night.

So that is what a Scottish vacation involves:  ghosts, mountains, murder and treachery and whisky. What could be a better way to spend a week or two than that!  A vacation to Skye and the highlands, with a stop in Edinburgh is the ideal vacation for anybody with a sense of adventure and a desire to prove that they are not easily frightened.  Just a word of warning:  if you feel you cannot be frightened then Edinburgh will prove you wrong.  You will be shaking in your shoes as you run screaming from the underground 17th century vaults.

Wye College

Contact:

Wye College

University of London

Wye

Kent

TN25 5AH

Tel: +44 (0)1233 813 320

Online:

http://www.wye.ac.uk

Guide:

This college is quite small, so its IT and library facilities are fantastic in comparison, as are their extensive sports facilities near halls which include football, hockey, cricket and lacrosse pitches as well as a leisure centre nearby and a reservoir for water sports. Because of its size the disability and welfare facilities are quite scarce there is one nurse and one counsellor and disabled cases are handled individually. Ashford is the nearest ‘big’ town, also the nearest book shop, there is a bus route although it doesn’t run after 8pm, try getting your book list at the ezylet shop. Similarly the London trains are regular but don’t run late. Parking on the other hand is ample and free, so driving is a good idea.

Where is my nearest…

…PUB?

The nearest pub is The Kings Head Hotel 0.11miles away on Church St.

…CLUB?

Liquid & Life on East Hill is 3.56 miles from the college.

…CINEMA?

As part of the Eureka Leisure Park there is a Cineworld 3.29 miles from the college.

…TAKEAWAY?

The Happy Inn 2.54 miles from college is the nearest takeaway.

…OFF LICENCE?

4.21 miles from the college on Lower Denmark Road is The Wheatsheaf.

…GYM/LEISURE CENTRE?

The Eureka Entertainment Park is 3.29 miles from the college.

…SUPERMARKET?

There is a Costcutter 3.36 miles from the college on Hythe Road, but for convenience there is a Co-op 0.09 miles away.

…DENTISTS?

The Wye Dental Surgery is just 0.21 miles away in Little Chequers.

…CHEMIST?

0.24 miles from the college is the Co-op Pharmacy on Bridge Street.

…DOCTORS?

Dr D I Biasio is just 0.32 miles away on Oxenturn Road.

…OPTICIANS?

3.68 miles from College on North Street is Cargills.