<p>The Glaswegian accent - his lecturers and fellow students are likely to be entirely understandable, but he may find that the locals are speaking something resembling a foreign language, though he will get used to it. </p>
<p>Banking - he’ll need to set up a local bank account. Student bank accounts have the best deals, and there’s a guide here <a href=“http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/Student-bank-account”>http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/Student-bank-account</a> </p>
<p>Cell phones - called mobile phones here, he’ll want to get his unlocked before he comes so that he can use a local network. He can then either go on pay as you go, or get a rolling 30 day contract. </p>
<p>Transport - the UK has a well developed public transport system, and very few students own cars. He’ll probably mainly use buses in the local area, but Glasgow also has a Tube, and he might like to consider buying a bike, which are far more popular than cars for urban undergrads. Trains are the standard way of getting from city to city (see <a href=“http://www.nationalrail.co.uk”>www.nationalrail.co.uk</a> for times, routes and prices) </p>
<p>Weather - think rain and grey skies for most of the year, the potential for snow in January and February, and the potential for some nice weather during the summer (when he’s at home!) </p>
<p>Meals - he’ll be expected to cook for himself - meal plans aren’t a thing at UK universities and conservatoires, but there will probably be some sort of pay as you go catering on campus for lunches. Most things that you can buy in the US you can buy in the UK, though it may be under a different brand name. The main supermarkets are called Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons and Tesco, and you can have a look at their websites for an idea of price and variety. It will be wise to ensure that he can cook at least basic meals before he goes, so that he has a foundation upon which he can build. Do be aware that when he sees UK recipes, measurements will be given in grams rather than cups, so do a quick primer for that one, and send him with a set of kitchen scales! </p>
<p>He’ll find that the British have a rather different relationship with alcohol - drinking is legal at 18, and it forms a significant part of the social life of undergraduates (particularly in the early days, though the novelty of getting smashed does tend to wear off within a few months, and people move to more sensible rates of drinking!). Pubs, in many ways, perform the same social function as coffee shops do in the UK - if Friends had been set in the UK, Central Perk would have been a pub. </p>
<p>There are no fraternities or sororities, so sports clubs and societies are the rough equivalent. However, having had a look, RCS has only two societies (LGBT and Christian Union). However, it’s common to find that students can join societies at neighbouring institutions (in this case, Uni of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian and Strathclyde). However, these reciprocal arrangements are rarely actually known about, so he’d be wise to ask people who are employed at the relevant students unions (not randomers from his course / halls!) about it if he wants to get involved in something. </p>
<p>He’ll have a great time and he’ll come out the other side as a very capable young adult, but do remind him that a bit of culture shock and the odd hiccup is to be expected along the way. In the UK, students are expected to be adults, but there’s a lot of help (from friends, from tutors at RCS, from the students union, and from speaking to his mum at home!) is available, but that he will have to seek it out himself. </p>
<p>PS he might like to watch Fresh Meat which (whilst you should take it with a large pinch of salt) is about the best representation of UK student life on TV at the moment. </p>