'I came to the UK because I wanted to study in a different atmosphere and make new friends worldwide. I also wanted to be exposed to the British ecology. My course is good - I've learned many things about ecology and environmental management and I've done a work experience module helping the technical team to prepare and set up students' experiments, which was very interesting.

'I've carried out experiments testing soil pH, its conductivity, drainage and moisture content in different layers (called horizons) of the soil. Eventually I'd like to study for a PhD in ecology and work as a conservationist.'

'While I was studying a full-time English course, I was also working part-time in a hotel. When my English was good enough, I decided I wanted to study for a qualification in hospitality, which will make it much easier for me to get a job in this field when I return home to China. The second year of my course is an internship year in a leading UK hotel; after that, I return to college for a year to complete my HND. My course and homework takes up a lot of my time, but I'm not working at the moment, so I have some time to spend with my friends and the long college holidays give me the opportunity to travel. I've been to the Highlands of Scotland, London, Manchester and Blackpool in summer and at Chinese New Year. Being away from home and living independently has made me much more confident in all areas of my life. Dealing with a whole new situation has made me grow up more quickly - I'd recommend studying abroad to anyone.'

'I decided on a Foundation Degree because it's a very practical course and gives you an opportunity to gain work-related experience. The quality of the student projects completed on this course in previous years was very high and this was another deciding factor. The part of the course I've enjoyed the most was the individual student project in my final year. We were all given free rein to develop an entire animation from scratch. It was a lot of work, but well worth the effort. I feel much more confident now. The environment in which the course was taught made it easy to learn and no-one was left behind. There was always someone available to help out if needed. I gained a lot of valuable experience that will help me get my foot in the door when the time comes to apply for jobs.'

'Before enrolling on my current course, I took an HND in Professional Musicianship, also in the UK. I chose to study here because of the legacy of British music around the world - the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The UK has the right industry and music scene for me to accomplish my goals.

'The fact that the UK has schools that specialise in music is great and means that courses focus on preparing students like myself for a future career instead of focussing solely on developing great instrument skills. During my second year, I performed with Scottish chart band Speedway, which included supporting Bryan Adams at Wembley Arena. In 2005, my own band The Crave performed at the In The City music festival. I would definitely recommend studying in the UK - as many cities have lots of students and a cool, friendly vibe.'

'I chose to study in the UK because the education system here enables you to focus strongly on your subject. It was the ideal place to study two European languages. I love learning about other cultures - on my course there are students from France, Spain, Germany, Korea, Thailand and Nigeria. Even a lot of the British students have Portuguese or Arabic origins, so I've enjoyed talking to my classmates. I've learned to communicate with people from all over the world. I've had a lot of homework but I've also had time to spend with my friends, and to set up a Japanese Cultural Society at my university. I'm especially proud of the Japanese-style party we organised, which brought together more than 200 students.

'Once I graduate, I hope to work as an interpreter or translator in which I can use English, Japanese and Spanish. I'd also like to draw on my own experiences to set up as an agent for students who want to study in the UK or abroad.'

'I chose to study in the UK because UK education has a good reputation in my country; a degree from a UK university will help me in my future career. My course is a combination of biology, chemistry and medicine, for which my university has a strong reputation in the UK and, therefore, internationally. It was important for me to study in an environment where world-class research was normal. My Department has excellent facilities, like those in a real pharmaceutical company and to use these facilities every day at my age is a real joy.

'My studies take most of my time, but I'm trying hard to balance this with my interests: I'm a member of my university's United Nations Society and I'm also involved with the student cinema. Studying in the UK has improved my self-confidence a lot and has taught me to make my own decisions without any fear or pressure. For the future, I hope to do a PhD and then to work in research in either chemicals or pharmaceuticals.'