Welcome to UK Buddy – Your Trusted Guide to Living, Studying, and Working in the UK

  --- 🌧️ “Eight Years in the Waiting Room: Life, Loneliness, and the Mental Health Cost of the UK’s 10-Year Route” 1. Introduction — A Life Built on Uncertainty The 10-year route to settlement in the UK is often described as a pathway of resilience, but for many migrants, it feels like living in a waiting room with no clear end in sight. Studies show that prolonged visa insecurity significantly increases anxiety, depression, and a sense of social displacement (Robertson et al., 2023). For years, I told myself that if I just worked hard enough, the UK would eventually feel like home. But eight years later, I am still navigating instability, loneliness, and the fear that everything I’ve built could disappear with a single policy change. This is my story — and the story of many who walk this quiet, exhausting journey. --- 2. Arrival — Hope in a Suitcase I arrived in the UK in late 2017 with a scholarship, a single suitcase, and a heart full of determination. I was 20, wide-eyed, and ...

  Why Project Management & Agile/Scrum Matters — Even If You Don’t Code In today’s fast‑changing world, “tech jobs” are often perceived as being all about coding, software development, or hardcore programming. But that’s only a portion of the story. There is a big demand for people who can manage, coordinate and deliver projects in technology — without necessarily writing a single line of code. Project management — especially through modern frameworks like Agile and Scrum — allows people to contribute meaningfully to tech, business, research, or creative projects, even if they don’t have programming skills. For many students and early‑career professionals, this can be a gateway into the tech / business world without the barrier of learning to code. That’s why I believe strongly in: if you don’t want to code, learn project management. It’s a powerful, practical, and often overlooked path. How My Experience Reflects This Path — From MRes, Visa Struggles, to Planning for Home‑Base...

  10 Things No One Tells You Before Moving to the UK as an International Student A story-driven and evidence-based guide When you prepare to move to the United Kingdom for studies, friends congratulate you, neighbours pray for you, and family members tell you, “You are going to a better life.” But no one truly prepares you for what it feels like to start life in a new country. You imagine tidy streets, smooth accents, easy jobs, and a soft landing. You pack your dreams into two suitcases and say goodbye to everything familiar. Then you arrive—and reality begins to unfold slowly, like a book you were never given the chance to read ahead of time. Below are 10 things no one tells you, blended with real evidence and the silent emotional truth many students discover only after they land in the UK. 1. The Cost of Living Hits You Before Your First Lecture The first shock is financial. You step into Tesco, pick milk, bread, eggs and one or two snacks… and the receipt ma...

 Impact of Technology in Healthcare 1. Introduction Healthcare technology refers to the application of knowledge, skills, and tools to enhance the delivery, efficiency, and outcomes of healthcare services (WHO, 2023). Over the last few decades, technological advancements have significantly transformed the healthcare sector, from basic diagnostic tools to sophisticated AI-driven systems. This article explores the impact of technology in healthcare, focusing on key advancements, their effect on patient care, associated challenges, and future trends. 2. Historical Context of Healthcare Technology Traditionally, healthcare relied on manual record-keeping, in-person consultations, and basic surgical tools. For instance, before the introduction of X-ray machines in the late 19th century, physicians could only rely on external examinations to diagnose internal conditions (Barker, 2019). The invention of the stethoscope in 1816 by René Laennec marked an early example of technology improvin...

  A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to My UK University Application Journey (Updated 2025 Edition) Applying to study in the United Kingdom remains one of the most rewarding but challenging experiences for international students . Many applicants underestimate the complexity of the process, the strict documentation requirements, and the speed at which universities and admissions teams expect responses. The aim of this detailed narrative is to document a full application journey—from preparation and documentation to CAS issuance and visa approval—so that new students can follow a proven pathway when submitting their own applications. With UK institutions increasing compliance checks and the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) tightening student visa procedures, the need for a structured, well-planned approach has become essential (UKVI, 2024). This article offers a comprehensive, experience-based road map, enriched with practical insights and strategies that contributed to a successful out...

  --- 🇬🇧 UK MIGRATION CHANGES 2025: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (FULL GUIDE FOR STUDENTS, WORKERS & CARERS) By UK Buddy Over the past few days, many of us who live, study, and work in the United Kingdom have felt uneasy after reports about new migration rules were released by the Home Office . The news spread quickly on social media: “15 years before you can settle”, “No benefits until citizenship”, “Arrived after 2021? You are affected.” Naturally, fear followed. Messages poured into my inbox from international students , carers , support workers, and families asking one question: “Is this true, and will it affect me?” This blog post explains everything in the simplest possible way. I will walk you through: What the UK Government actually said Who the new proposals affect When the changes might begin How this impacts carers, students, NHS workers , and families What you can do to protect yourself The aim is to provide clarity, not panic. --- 1. What Exactly Did the Government Anno...