News
If you are in London this weekend (Friday 12th March and Saturday 13th March) you might want to visit the Top Universities Fair at Earls Court.
Representatives from Universita Bocconi and University of Newcastle will be in attendance for the entire weekend.
A Star Future will also be putting in an appearance on Friday afternoon and possibly also on Saturday. If you would like to meet, send us a message through the website and we will try to arrange something.
Shortage of Places at British Universities
15th January 2010
Today is the closing day for UCAS applications to British universities. Early indications suggest that as many as 200,000 students could miss out on their chosen university.
While the causes of this shortage are well documented, no one knows exactly what the effects will be. Inevitably the "better" universities will be the first to fill up, meaning that less well known universities may find they are able to recruit a different class of student than in previous years.
However, if last year's experience is any guide, many students will simply defer entry and/or resit their A' levels to ensure they get in to their chosen university sooner or later.
A Star Future remains committed to presenting international alternatives to British students. There is no need for students to put their lives on hold while they wait to gain access to a good quality university; there are many good universities around the world who will welcome well educated, motivated students from any British background.
Visit Bocconi in Milan
21st December 2009
Universita Bocconi is the oldest private university in Italy and it is one of the few places where you can gain a world-class education in economics and law in the English language.
Bocconi's mission is to be a highly international university and as a result, they regularly seek to identify suitable students from the United Kingdom. As part of their plan to attract the best British students, they offer you the chance to see what Bocconi is like. They run two programs where you can visit their campus in Milan free of charge.
The International Talent Scout 2010 takes place from 10th to 12th February. These dates fit neatly with the half term holiday in most European countries. However, they are just before the half term holiday at most British schools. The deadline for applying is 17th January so you still have some time to decide if this is something you would like to do.
For those of you who are interested in applying to Bocconi you can also sit their entrance test at this time. However, this is not essential. The whole opportunity is completely free to participants. You only have to worry about the costs of getting there.
For those of you planning on studying economics and/or law at university, this could be a great way for you to work out whether this is the right international university for you.
For more information click here.
17 November 2009
A newly released report by the Institute for International Education shows that the number of British students at US higher education institutions has grown by 4% this year.
This increase is largely made up of students taking an exchange as part of a British degree but there is also an increase in students deciding to take their full degree abroad. We expect this trend to continue in the next few years.
The most popular US universities for British students are Harvard University, University of Central Florida, University of Pittsburgh, NYU and Columbia University.
Introducing Think Education Group
6th October 2009
We are delighted to announce a new partnership with Think:Education Group, Australia's leading provider of specialist, vocational education.
Think:Education Group includes colleges which focus on marketing and communications, tourism and hospitality, design and health & wellbeing. In recent years they have achieved a 100% success rate in terms of their graduates finding a job in the industry they train for. So, if you are worried about investing in your future with no guarantee of a job at the end of your studies, you might want to take a look at Think:Education Group.
It is also possible to study for your degree in two years. This is hard work. You will complete three years' worth of courses in two years. It is not a short cut. But, if you are motivated to get in to the workplace as quickly as possible, this might be the way for you to go.
We will shortly have more information available on the site.
Study Opportunities Abroad for Students in Clearing
20th August 2009
Today thousands of students will learn their A' level results. And while these results are estimated to be the best ever, with one in four exam entries receiving an A grade, this is no guarantee that this year's school leavers will be able to access the university of their choice in the U.K..
Over the last year A* Future has gathered information on some excellent universities around the world which are able to accept applications at short notice.
Clearly many international universities are also full and have no places remaining for 2009 entry. However, you can find places at universities in Australia and New Zealand which will accept students in February 2010.
If you wish to start in October 2009 you can apply to universities in Europe, specifically in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. We know that many school careers advisors are not yet in a position to assist students with applications to international universities. That's why we are here!
Please feel free to use the website as a first source of information but you are welcome to contact us through the site if there are any specific questions you might like to ask. We look forward to hearing from you.
A* Future wants to know what YOU think!
After the success of our first online survey last year, we are delighted to announce the launch of the 2009 questionnaire.
We believe that any service is only as good as its users make it, so we would very much like to make sure we are on the right track when introducing changes over the next few months.
As a small thank you for helping us out you may win a prize.
We are giving away one iPod Nano and three Amazon Gift Certificates for £15 each. All you have to do to stand a chance of winning is to click on the link below and take part:
Prague College is the Place for Me
British student shares his experiences
12 November 2008
Originally from Manchester, Matt Butler is now studying and living in Prague. He has the following to say about his life there:
Studying at Prague College has changed my life and I would recommend it to anyone.
When I was choosing a university I wanted to stay close to my family. Luckily living in Manchester I had a good of great number of choices available. Then I found Prague College.
When I applied to study here, I wasn't completely serious about the idea. The school replied to me immediately and offered me an interview over the phone or at the school. I decided to visit the school in person as I had been to Prague before and it gave me an excuse to visit the city again. I was met by friendly staff and I had the opportunity to meet some of the students, many of whom were a long way from home.
I was offered a place at the school and I took it without thinking twice. I'm at the end of my first year here and I don't regret it for a moment.
I study business here and I recommend the school to anyone else thinking about studying business. In the UK I once had a business teacher who read from a book for hours on end with the occasional sarcastic quip thrown in as a dire attempt to keep the class interested in the material and not the monotone sounds coming from his mouth. Here at Prague College I have teachers that explain the material using their own real life experiences and keep the material interesting. The class sizes are small - I have not had a class with more than 20 students in it. The teacher knows who I am and is always around when I have questions, whether they are about the material or a project that I am working on outside of the school.
Another great experience that can be associated with the school is living in Prague. Prague is a beautiful city is in the heart of Europe. There always seems to be something going on around here, beer festivals, food festivals there was even a fringe festival similar to Edinburgh's (and that one might have been a little smaller!) And of course Prague is famous for its beer! The city is full of bars and clubs that go on until the following afternoon!
If you are looking for quality education, life experience, culture, a rich social life and skills that can help you succeed in the real world then I recommend Prague College to you.
For more information about Prague College, or to arrange a visit to see for yourself, please get in touch with us.
Graduates Who Have Studied Abroad More Attractive to Businesses
22nd October 2008
According to a recent article in The Guardian, UK graduates are missing out on high-flying international jobs because fewer of them are choosing to study abroad as part of their degree.
New research presented this month by the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) found that international businesses are increasingly seeking graduates who have a global awareness, particularly those who have the initiative to study overseas as part of their learning.
Graduates who have studied abroad tend to be more culturally aware, able to work in multicultural teams and move around the world as part of their career.
The report goes on to stress that many international employers are now actively looking for graduates from other countries to fill vacancies in the UK because of the shortage of British students who have the necessary experience.
Those of you who have attended one of our presentations will have heard us go on about the benefits of international experience. Even three years ago when we started out many employers were saying that studying abroad was irrelevant. We are glad to see that most businesses have now recognised the importance of education across borders.
For further information:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/16/students-highereducation
Young 'Dream of Living Abroad'
20th October 2008
A recent article on the BBC website suggests that seven out of 10 young people want to live and work abroad one day - but most do not have a second language.
A survey of 560 UK students aged from 11 to 18 found enthusiasm for the US, Australia, Spain, Italy and France.
Ministers are using the research to encourage more young people to take up a language.
A* Future has been conducting its own research into the question of living abroad for over two years and we have consistently found that young Britons are happy to experience international living.
Schools minister Jim Knight said: "It's fantastic to see the next generation of young people are hoping to spread their wings and strengthen Britain's links to the rest of the world.
This research is yet more proof that we need to equip today's youth with the tools to succeed in the international marketplace - which means encouraging all young people to improve their language skills."
As the British government starts to catch up with this skills shortage, a whole generation of British students will have to take the initiative and find their own way in the world. A* Future is an excellent place to start learning more about the opportunities that are out there.
A Star Future - Competition Prize Winners
30 July 2008
We would like to thank all of you who took part in our recent questionnaire about your attitudes towards international education. We will be sharing some of the results of this survey as part of our forthcoming newsletters. Please be sure to sign up to receive them if you haven't already.
As part of the questionnaire we offered you the chance to win some prizes for taking part.
The winner of the iPod Nano is Narvind Johal.
There are three winners of £15 Amazon Gift Certificates: Imirpreet Chohan, Sam Hayes and Aimee Scott.
Congratulations to all our winners!
There will be further chances to win prizes in the future so keep checking the newsletter and the website.