Like! Hello after a long hiatus! The last couple of months have been a busy busy time for most of us haven´t they? Except for those of you making last minute university applications, accommodation bookings and visa applications must be well underway? Just another month to go! I hope I´ve been able to answer some of the questions you´ve had about studying and living in the UK and I hope my posts and my e-book have made things a little easier and comfortable for you. I wish all those of you flying to the UK next month, a very happy countdown to departure!
This post, by the way, is not for you! It´s for those of you who haven´t been able to make it to the universities of your choice, and are looking for a second chance.
As an international student applying to a university in the UK, it is natural to be worried about whether your qualifications will meet the entry requirements of the university you´re aspiring for and whether you will be able to cope with the new system of education and structure of study. Universities also recognise that international students may not have academic background required for their degree programmes or even the English language skills necessary to make the most of their study. And this is why an increasing number of them are offering international students the option of first enrolling on a pathway programme. So if you receive a ´rejection´ letter from the university of your choice, don´t be disheartened. It isn´t really a rejection, it´s simply a way of telling you that you need a little bit more preparation for life as a university student in the UK.
As opposed to what many students feel, a foundation programme or a bridging programme is not meant for applicants who aren´t bright enough for direct entry to university. It is meant for international students who have the potential to join university, but whose qualifications in their home country are not sufficient to meet entry requirements. This could be for various reasons including the fact that you haven´t studied the necessary background subjects, English wasn´t your first language and you aren´t entirely comfortable with it, or your institution is not recognised by the university you´re applying to or your grades have fallen slightly short of the entry requirements. The university wants you to be at par with other students from around the world and from the UK as well when you join it, because that´s the only way you will be able to enjoy your course and do well in it without having to struggle to keep up.
One well recognised provider of university preparatory and pathway programmes is Kaplan. Kaplan Inc., has set up a number of international colleges in the UK in partnership with leading universities in the country, to prepare students for entry to these universities. The foundation certificate, diploma, and graduate diploma or pre-masters programmes that the Kaplan International Colleges offer guarantee progression to degree courses at the partner universities on successful completion. The Kaplan colleges fill in the gaps in an international student´s qualifications and equip him with academic and English skills he needs to cope with degree level education in the UK. Currently, Kaplan´s network of international colleges partner with the the University of Sheffield, the University of Liverpool, the University of Glasgow, the University of Southampton, the University of Westminster, City University, Nottingham Trent University and Bournemouth University. So if you´re seeking admission to any of these universities and if you feel you would benefit from a bridging programme that will ease you into the UK system of education or if you´ve been declined by one of these universities, don´t forget to contact Kaplan! Click here!
