British customs, culture and quirks

Daylight savings time

The clocks change twice a year in the UK. They are moved forward by one hour in March, for what is known as British Summer Time and are turned back by one hour in October (“spring forward, fall back”).

Of course, nearly all our devices, such as smartphones and laptops adjust the time automatically. However, there are millions of households around Britain with standard clocks, which will need to be changed.   

The date clocks change varies each year - exact dates for this year can be found on the UK Government website.

Drinking water

Tap water in Scotland is safe to drink. The public water supply is provided by Scottish Water.

Eating and drinking

If you are invited to somebody’s house for a meal, it is considered good manners to take a small token of your appreciation. A bottle of wine, flowers or chocolate are popular gifts.

People in the UK generally eat with a knife and fork and put them together on the plate at the end of the meal to signal that they have had enough to eat.

If you eat in a restaurant, you may wish to tip the waiter if you have received good service, although this is not always expected. It will be noted on the menu if a compulsory ‘service charge’ (tip) is going to be added to your total cost.

Drinking alcohol

Many British people drink alcohol. You must be over the age of 18 to drink.

If you do not drink alcohol, then you may be worried if you are invited to a pub or a bar. Don’t worry – pubs are popular meeting places and sell non-alcoholic drinks as well as alcohol.

Both men and women visit pubs and bars in the UK.

Alcohol awareness

When drinking alcohol, some people are more likely to lose their inhibitions and act in an exaggerated and different manner to normal. Some may be less inclined to think of the consequences of their actions and so can take risks and behave more dangerously.

Here are some tips to drink responsibly: 

• Stay with your friends 
• Agree at the start of the night, how you will get home - make sure you have taxi numbers with you and enough money to pay for one 
• Set a budget for how much you will spend 
• Eat well before you go out
• Drink at your own pace
• Avoid drinking games
• Keep an eye on your drink and never leave drinks unattended 

Electricity

Electrical current in the UK is 230 volts at 50 cycles. If you come from a country operating on a different voltage, you should ensure that you are equipped with the appropriate transformer so that your devices or appliances will work and not be damaged.

Alternatively, there are many discount electrical stores and supermarkets where you can buy various items (hairdryer, kettle etc.) at reasonable prices. 

Equality and gender

People of all genders have equal rights in the UK, and play an equal role in society in the UK. There are no rules or regulations which prevent men or women doing specific jobs - both men and women alike carry out all roles at all levels.

It is illegal to discriminate against anyone according to race, gender, age, class, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

British attitudes to sex and sexuality may be different from those in your own country. You are free to live according to your own personal standards, ethics and beliefs and not feel pressured to adopt those of any of your fellow students, however you must also respect their right to live their lives according to their personal standards.

General politeness

We use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ a lot and it is important you do too! British people are quite relaxed, but like good manners. It is polite to say ‘excuse me’ when wanting someone to move out of your way and ‘sorry’ if you accidentally bump into somebody.

People in the UK are quite open and friendly, but are still quite private and reserved. It is impolite to ask personal questions such as ‘how much do you earn?’ or ‘how much do you weigh?’ and people are unlikely to start conversations with strangers.

When you are talking to someone or are requesting a service from them, no matter who they are and no matter what role or status they have, you must be courteous and not demanding. This can range from buying a train ticket, asking for information at a reception desk, asking your tutors for advice or speaking to an immigration officer.

People will be less willing to provide the assistance you require if you are not courteous and respectful.

Greeting people

When meeting someone for the first time, it is polite to shake hands with the right hand, say hello and ask the person how they are. You may find people use expressions such as ‘how are you?’ or ‘how’s it going?’

Kissing and hugging is usually reserved for greeting family and close friends. 

Kilts

Yes, we wear kilts in Scotland, but it’s more than just a skirt for men. Kilts are often worn for special occassions such as weddings. You can read more about their use and history at Visit Scotland.

Laundry and dry cleaning

Many flats and apartment blocks have laundry facilities.

If there is no washing or drying facility where you live, you can take your clothes to a ‘launderette’, where there are coin-operated washing machines and dryers. You can operate the machine yourself or, at a small extra charge, the attendant will do your washing for you.

There are also many dry cleaners in our areas.

Law

The laws in the UK may be different from those in your home country. All international students are required to comply with UK laws. Below are a few that you should note: 

• You must not carry drugs with you of any kind (unless prescribed by a doctor) or use any illegal drugs including cannabis, ecstasy, LSD or amphetamines
• It is illegal to carry any sort of weapon including knives, self-defence CS gas sprays, guns or stun guns
• You must be aged 18 and over to buy tobacco and alcohol or to have alcohol purchased for you
• As a general rule, the minimum legal age for gambling in the UK is 18 years old. This applies to adult gaming centres, betting shops, bingo halls, casinos, racetracks and online gambling
• Never buy property that you think may be stolen, no matter how tempting a bargain it might seem
• It is against the law to smoke/vape inside buildings
• The age of consent for sex in the UK is 16 – this applies to both men and women
• You need to ensure that you consume alcohol wisely - it is possible to be arrested for being drunk and disorderly
• When shopping, take care to pay for all goods before you leave the shop - most shops have a policy of prosecuting people and it is difficult for you to prove mistakes
• There are local laws relating to anti-social behaviour, for example playing loud music after 11pm 

For more information, look at this essential guide to the law in the UK.

Och aye the noo

No, people do not say this in Scotland - at least not in everyday conversation. There is a rich language tradition in Scotland, and you may find it hard to understand some statements. Wikipedia has information about Scotticism which may help you understand more.

Punctuality

British people are very punctual and arrive on time for appointments. It is considered rude to arrive late.

If you are going to arrive late, you should contact the person you are meeting beforehand to let them know. You should never arrive late for lectures, seminars, tutorials etc.

If you are late for an appointment, do not be surprised if you are told to make another appointment to be seen on another day.

Similarly, if you cannot make it to an appointment at all, it is always advisable to telephone and let the person know in advance.

Queuing

In Scotland we like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for our turn.

It is usual to queue when required and expected that you will take your correct turn, and not push in front.

Religion

Freedom of religion in the UK covers all faiths, so if you follow a religion at home, you can continue to do so here.

Many international students suggest that if you have a faith and continue to practice this in the UK, it may provide you with a link to your life at home and help to alleviate homesickness.

Smoking and vaping

Smoking and vaping are banned from enclosed public places in the UK. This means that people can only smoke in designated areas where there is a smoking sign. This ban affects most public premises e.g. restaurants, pubs, bars, shops, cinemas, shopping centres, leisure centres, other enclosed workplaces and public transport.

If you are a smoker, please ensure that you only smoke/vape in the designated areas. Anyone who does not abide by these rules could face criminal charges and a fine.

Student clubs and societies

There are lots of activities and events going on outside the classroom for you to take part in. There will be events and socialising opportunities on all of our campuses. You can help to suggest and plan events including music and art performances, participate in enterprise challenges, and get involved in charity fundraising.

Head over to Your Students’ Association's website to stay up to date.

TV Licence

When you live in the UK and you have a television you must buy a TV licence. The law says you need to be covered by a TV licence to: 

• watch or record programmes live as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel 
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer

This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder. 

A standard TV licence costs £159 per year. You can pay all in one go or you can spread the cost by using a direct debit. 

If you do not have a licence you could be taken to court and fined £1,000 at a magistrate’s court.

Tipping

Tipping in Scotland and the rest of the UK, like tipping in most other places, can be awkward and embarrassing if you get it wrong. Tipping when you don't have to can add unnecessary costs to your night out.

The following is only a rough guide to how much you should tip. If the service is much better or worse than you expected, you could vary the tip accordingly: 

• Restaurants/meals at pubs: 10-12% of the bill, if a service charge is not included 
• Drinking at the pubs: if your server gives you especially good service, you can offer a small sum (like the price of half a pint of beer), with the words, "and have one for yourself" or something similar
• Fast food/ takeaways: you might see a tip jar on the counter when getting takeaway, while there's no pressure to top it up, people often leave the small change after they've paid for their meal
• Taxis: 10% of the fare