Life in UK for students is quite different for students as compared to India. It is infinitely more expensive. Options are more, but the costs too is high. There are no major road side eateries which can serve you hot parathas for a few pence, a few pounds is more likely the cost you would have to bear on each such outing. You would automatically switch to everyone pays for themselves, but that is small consolation when everything will start with a minimum of 1 pound. Yes, even a slice of chess bread from the van would cost you either 1 pound or more. Even the Indian eateries at places with Indian diaspora takes UK pricing connotations. For a first time student, eveything gets converted to 100 as a comparison.
There are no roadside chaiwalla or parathewala, or golgappe wala. Haldiram packs of golgappe are available at most places in packing of 20 (no mashed potatoes enclosed) for a princely sum of 4 pounds (yes, you read it correct- Rs. 400/- for 20 golgappas and bring your own filling). The Indian culture is fast catching up with Costa and Barista and Starbucks and in malls you easily spend 200 rupees for a chai, but that is when you live with your parents, and these outings constitute 10 or max 20% of your overall instances. In India you can live like a prince or princess in student life if your pocket money is Rs 10k. 100 pounds in the UK might get you a few meals at most at Indian eateries not classfied as fine dining.
The social environment is completely different to that in India. Perhaps you might not be able to achieve the level of informality with your friends which you took for granted here in India. Remember most of your colleagues would be from different nationalities, coming from different cultures and values. While most of our friends in universities in India when we study here comprises of our friends from school, and that gives us some comfort too. But in the UK, with new people, new friends, you might feel a bit lost initially, and definitely a lot homesick.
