In this April 2008 additional issue you will find updated check lists for visa applications and announcement regarding new opening WorldBridge Visa Aplication Centre.

The qualification designed for agents by British Council is to increase agents’ capacity and to promote the UK as a study destination. The course develops agents’ ability to provide high quality information, resources and services to students seeking education in the UK. The course also develops their skills to source relevant information and updated their knowledge about studying in the UK.

The Final examination was sat by 18 representatives from various agents and for the first time by private high schools’ college counsellors in Turkey.

There were 9 successful participants. Following the online course, we organised an award ceremony on 27th March 2008 at the British Consulate – General to present the certificates and plaques to the successful participants. The plaques and certificates were presented by British Consul – General Dame Barbara Hay and British Council Director Turkey Mr Chris Brown.

The participants who achieved the certificate stage are listed as below:

Selin Akçay - British Side - Pass with Distinction
Alan Kirk - MEF Schools
Ann Cupples - British International School
Birçem Örs - EASY Education
Figen Gülenay - EMEF
Fulya Yalezan Yılmaz - OLC Turkey
Kemal Yıldız- Pasifik Agency
Maral Mutafyan -
Tuğçe Atakan - EASY Education

We would like to thank you all for your participation.

Having had the successful visits in Turkey, English UK – North invited the Turkish Agents that participated in their workshop in Autumn 2007 in collaboration with British Council Education UK.  11 Agents from Turkey visited the language schools in the North of England between 10th to 14th March 2008 in order to have first hand experience on what the language schools offer in terms of education quality and social life.

The language schools briefed visiting agents about their offers as well as education quality and social life in the North of England. The schools that were visited are:

English in Chester:
Leeds Metropolitan University
Harrogate Language Academy
The English Language Centre – York
Melton College York
Manchester Academy of English

Details for those schools can be obtained from English in the North website.

Following on from last weeks communication, the Education UK video diaries campaign is now live. Take a look at the Education UK Video Education UK Video Diaries Website and see for yourself.

The aim of Video My UK is to encourage international students currently studying in the UK to create a video of their experiences. We want to see innovative, individual videos that showcase an aspect of the UK that really means something to them. Hopefully the videos will inspire prospective international students to come to the UK and experience it for themselves.

Videos will be uploaded onto our YouTube channel. Further information will follow...

Visa Fees

There has been a slight change in fees, please find the updated fee list here

Exercise the right of access to a child 545YTL
It is now in the 'Other/Exempt Category' rather than 'Visit'.

The further updates on UK Visas will be distributed separately soon.

On top of the world: Glasgow Caledonian University is rated UK’s best international student experience

Glasgow Caledonian University’s international students have rated their student experience the best in the UK.

The university was rated the country’s top international experience in the latest International Student Barometer survey, which also placed Caledonian the best in Scotland for the second time in a row.

The survey, carried out by independent research specialists i-graduate.org, measures international students’ satisfaction with every aspect of their university experience.

Glasgow Caledonian was rated top in Scotland in every category: learning, living, support and arrival, and was rated significantly better than the Scotland, UK, and worldwide averages in every category.

More than 80 universities took part in the survey, and, for the first time, the competition included institutions from the USA and Europe. Glasgow Caledonian University was ranked second worldwide within a field of institutions which included Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Queens University Belfast and Yale.

A third of the university’s international student population took part in the survey.

Student satisfaction with life in Glasgow and Scotland was also high; 92% said Glasgow is a good place to be, and many said how they “love” the city and found the Scottish people friendly and welcoming.

The survey found that employability, work experience and careers advice are more important to international students at Glasgow Caledonian than to international students in other higher education institutions, and rate the university highly in each of these areas. Areas of specific strength are seen to be expert lecturers (89% positive), quality learning spaces (96% positive), course content and assessment (92% positive), teaching and research (92% positive) and location and transport links (94% positive).

For further information about Glasgow Caledonian University please click here..

International Summer School from University of the Arts London

Intensive International Summer School by University of the Arts London offers students opportunity to study in London using the rich and social diversity that the city has to offer. This two week programme is designed to give international students, who have completed year one of I.B. (or equivalent), an introduction to University level study in art and design. The programme is structured in a similar way to a foundation course, and is designed to help students build their portfolios, whilst simultaneously allowing them to develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills for the final year of their I.B. study. In addition, students are welcomed from other English medium schools with equivalent art and design experience.

Please find attached the brochure here giving detailed information on the programme.

For more information please visit University of the Arts London website or email Summer School Administration Office

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