Destination UK

Our recent StudentPulse survey showed that the UK is about to overtake the US as the most desired destination for international students. What makes a UK education so attractive? In this article, we explore what it’s really like to study, and live, in Britain.

Kanayo Enwemadu is studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Glasgow. “I wanted to study in the UK as the UK education is recognized, respected and highly valued all over the world. I immediately knew it was the right choice because of the efficiency displayed by all the staff: they are nice, friendly and approachable.” She was surprised by how beautiful the Scottish city is. “Glasgow is breathtaking; it’s a beautiful, cosmopolitan place to live.”

A qualification from a prestigious UK institution can help you fast track your international career. But there are many other benefits to studying in England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland:

Practice makes perfect: you’ll have opportunities to practice your English language skills beyond the classroom. This is the home of the English language, so it’s no surprise that every year over 600,000 international students study English in the UK.

Traditional or state-of-the-art: From the prestige of universities like Oxford or Cambridge, to high-tech facilities at many purpose-built campuses. With over 3000 educational institutions in the UK, you’ll find the right course and location for you.

Earn while you learn: Did you know you can work for up to 20 hours per week during term-time, and full-time during the holidays? This means you can add to your student funds with the extra income – and also gain valuable work experience in your chosen field.

And earn once you’ve learned: Plus, the new International Graduates Scheme allows all international students to work for up to 12 months after graduation.  In February 2008, the British Government announced plans to introduce an 'Australian-style', points-based immigration system for highly-skilled foreign workers who want to move to the UK. The system started on 29 February 2008 for foreign nationals working in Britain who want to extend their stay. From April 2008 the system will be rolled out overseas.

Discover Europe: There are so many places to explore, and travelling from the UK to Europe is easy. The channel tunnel train links London directly to Paris and Brussels, or you can fly to cities like Rome, Madrid or Lisbon in just a few hours.

Or discover the UK: For such a small nation, the UK is extremely diverse. 60 million people live in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and each region has its own distinct culture and history. Some even have their own language.

Your home away from home: The UK has many multicultural communities. You’ll find shops selling all your favourite foods from home, in every major city. You’ll also find many people who speak your language, and places of worship for all major religions.

It’s no wonder that the latest survey by UKCOSA (the Council for International Education) found that nearly 90% of international students in the UK were satisfied with their experience. But, like any study abroad opportunity, there will be some differences to adjust to.

Tomono, from Japan, studied English at a language school in Brighton. “At first it took me a while to adjust to the strange food and the public transport system. I was really homesick. But as my confidence in speaking English improved, I met more people and really enjoyed myself.”

Studying in the UK will develop your independence, creativity, and self-reliance – and these qualities will make you even more attractive to employers around the world.

There is still time to apply for September intake in the UK. To find out more about the huge range of courses available in the UK, contact one of our student counsellors today.

Now we need their stories…

Thank you all for sending in your stories about why you want to study overseas, and what you want to achieve. We would love to share some new stories with you all – but this time we are asking for stories from students who are currently, or who have already, studied abroad.

What is it really like? What was the biggest shock, surprise? What was the best experience?

We know that you have all talked with friends or family members about their experiences. Maybe it was a long time ago, or maybe they are still studying there now. Please share them with us, or ask them to send their experiences to us. And it’s a chance for their story to be published online!

Please email your stories to [email protected]. Make sure you include the country studied in, and the country you are from. Please do not send requests for study information to this address though – you need to ask one of our qualified student counsellor for any information on courses, visas and fees.

Student information sessions

One of the major benefits of registering with StudyLink is the chance to take part in our online events with academic and international staff from universities and colleges from around the world.

Every month we have 3-5 events where you can participate in live question and answer sessions with university staff and EATC qualified counsellors.

To register you need to be serious about studying at one the institutions and start an application through StudyLink. For study abroad advice, contact our education advisors today.

Upcoming Events

University of Ballarat
Wednesday 20 April
12-2pm UK, 4.30pm-6.30pm India
Speaker: Kristy Jones: International Marketing Officer
Moderator: Lewis Davies

University of Derby
Tuesday 13 May
12-2pm UK, 4.30pm-6.30pm India
Speaker: Sue Wang: Head of International Recruitment
Moderator: Therese Larsson

Study in UK Event
Thursday 29 May
12-2pm UK, 4.30pm-6.30pm India
Speaker: Deepti Dhamija
Moderator: Therese Larsson

Use the world clock to find out the time in your city.

Australia: New Nursing and Midwifery double degree at UQ

The University of Queensland introduced a double Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery degree program this year. Students can choose to fast-track their studies, and graduate with two degrees in just three and half years.

There is a chronic shortage of nurses in Australia, so international students will find it easier to work in Australia once they graduate. The Skilled Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme gives qualified nurses priority visas, if they choose to work in rural or isolated areas.

The Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Associate Professor Cathy Turner, said the new program used the international best practice standards in education. Students will attend lectures one day per week at the UQ Ipswich campus in Brisbane, and complete most of their clinical practice at the Mater - a teaching hospital nearby.

“Students will experience 1600 hours of clinical placement over the four-year program, which means they will be job-ready when they graduate,” Associate Professor Turner said.

Graduates will also be eligible for Queensland Nursing Council endorsement, as both a Registered Nurse and a Registered Midwife. With a serious shortage of qualified nurses worldwide, the degrees offer students the opportunity to help patients in many ways. It could lead to work in research, rural and remote health services, aid organisations, or public and private hospitals around the world.

For more information on the new UQ nursing/midwifery degree, and other courses available at this leading Australian university, talk with one of our student counsellors.

CRICOS provider code: 00025B

US: Johnson and Wales fashion students discover New York style

From September, Johnson and Wales University will offer a new four-year Bachelor of Science degree in fashion merchandising and retail marketing.

“We’re part of the School of Business,” says Pat Fisher, Chairwoman of the Marketing department at Johnson and Wales. “The biggest misconception is that we’re designers – but we’re not. I think some people are attracted by a sense of glamour around the fashion business.”

The program can lead graduates to a variety of careers, including buying, visual merchandising, store management, trend forecasting and fashion journalism.

Current fashion merchandising students travelled to New York in February to meet with people in the fashion industry during New York Fashion Week. It was a wonderful opportunity to see how the heart of the US fashion industry really works.

Jenessa Ponte originally began the course intending to become a buyer, but after meeting Lauren Deatherage, a trend forecaster for Cotton Inc., she changed her ambitions. For Allison Ackerman, meeting Court Williams, Fashion Market Editor for trade journal Women’s Wear Daily, was a highlight. “That’s my dream job!” she said.

As well as field trips to New York, the class spends five Fridays each term in retail head offices close to the Massachusetts campus. Internships are also part of the fashion merchandising program.

“It’s a field that’s constantly changing,” says Melanie St Lean, Associate Professor of Marketing, “The consumer has more options than ever before. There’s catalogues, the internet… they no longer just walk through the door, and companies are starting to realise that.”

To find out whether the Fashion Merchandising degree at Johnson & Wales University is right for you, contact one of our student counsellors today.

UK: Bath Spa University recognised for green achievements

Looking for a university that is taking positive action on climate change? Bath Spa University recently won a Silver award in the UK EcoCampus Scheme. It was the first university to be recognised with this award.

Professor Frank Morgan, Vice Chancellor of Bath Spa University, said: “We feel strongly that higher education has an important wider role in achieving sustainability and helping reduce climate change. We have an ambitious energy management programme aimed at reducing our carbon emissions by 10% within two years.”

The EcoCampus scheme was set up in 2005 and is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). A new recycling and energy-saving programme helped Bath Spa University achieve its Silver status.

Motion-sensing lights and long-life energy saving lightbulbs have already been installed in one teaching block and a student accommodation building. A green transport plan is also in progress.

Bath Spa University has two campuses in the historical town of Bath in England’s south-west. The town is well-known for its Roman baths and Georgian architecture.

With its history and beautiful countryside, it is no surprise that the staff and students take their responsibility towards the environment very seriously. The university is also one of the highest-ranked modern universities in England, and offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate course for international students.

To find out more about opportunities to study in Bath, contact one of our student counsellors today.

Singapore: Be part of the creative revolution at LASALLE

LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore offers a unique contemporary approach to arts and design studies, in an amazing architectural building.

The design of the new city campus was chosen to represent Singapore at the Venice Architectural Biennale in 2004. With six different schools of art and design in a single glass “Art Canyon”, the building is a creative hive of activity.

The college offers all programmes in partnership with Open University (OU), so graduates receive the equivalent of a UK Masters of Arts (MA), Bachelor of Arts (Hons) or Dip HE. It was founded in 1984 and is a non-profit, private education institution.

Singapore is becoming Asia’s creative centre, and is home to many global creative companies. The new campus has three theatres, Singapore’s largest contemporary art gallery, and Asia’s first theatre and art production workshop. It is the region’s only integrated arts campus.

The undergraduate and postgraduate programmes include Design, Fine Arts, Film, Media Arts, Dance, Music, Theatre, Art History, Art Therapy and Arts Management. Nearly a third of students come from over 30 different countries, and 84% of graduates found employment less than three months after completing their studies.

David Stevanov, from Indonesia, is studying the BA (Hons) in Advertising Design at LASALLE. He loves the design of the new building, and believes it finally fits the creative image of the college. He says; “There is a good mixture of international students and local students. You get to know people from other parts of the world and exchange ideas and thoughts. Because I believe, where we grow up influences our philosophy in design. Design is not only about yourself, but also about people around you. Your circle of friends and your network will help you a lot in the future. Singapore… is a safe, organized country and education is one of the top priorities here.”

To find out more about the courses available at LASALLE College in Singapore, contact one of our student counsellors for more information.

Application Deadlines

Australia and New Zealand – Application deadlines are closing soon for July 2008 intake - especially if you live in visa level 3 and 4 countries like India and China.

Do not worry! Submit your application and supporting documents to us by the end of April to qualify. You do not need to scan and attach your documents; a counsellor can do this for you. Contact a counsellor for assistance with selecting a course, completing your applications and confirming your enrolment.

Applications are now opening for 2009 scholarship programs.

USA and Canada – You can still submit your application to start in September 2008, but you should contact your counsellor immediately. We encourage you to apply well in advance to secure a place and to allow time to apply for your visa.

Contact a counsellor for assistance with selecting a course or completing your applications.

UK and Ireland – Submit your application to StudyLink now to start in September 2008, the UK's main term. It is best to get your application in early, as popular courses will start to fill up soon. The application deadline is June 2008.

We recommend you submit your application and supporting documents to us as soon as possible, even with your latest results. You do not need to scan and attach your documents, a counsellor can do this for you. Contact a counsellor for assistance with selecting a course, completing your applications, and confirming your enrolment.