News
Study Abroad Presentations for Parents and Advisors in Liverpool and Lancaster
17th January 2012
We are delighted to announce the first in a series of evening events providing information about international higher education to parents, advisors and students.
This year, the number of British students expected to go abroad for their university education has increased dramatically. The increase in tuition fees in the United Kingdom has encouraged future students to consider options around the world. With the average student debt upon completion of a three year Bachelor degree expected to reach £50,000 there are many alternatives available that could prove to be a better investment.
Now more than ever, choosing a university is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are many important factors to be taken into consideration and money is only one of these. The decision to study abroad will always be more complicated than staying in the United Kingdom. However, it does not have to be difficult if you know what issues you are likely to face.
The presentation is designed to provide an overview of the reality of studying abroad but will also offer participants the chance to ask questions about their own specific requirements. There is no cost for attending the presentation but there are strict limits on the number of attendees.
Register here for:
On Wednesday 16th November, A Star Future Managing Director Mark Huntington was on the panel for the Money Box Live broadcast on student finance. The programme was broadcast live from Harrogate Grammar School and addressed many issues relating to the changes in UK student finance and funding. We were able to provide some background information about studying in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe and if you are interested in hearing what we had to say you can follow the two links below. The first is to the live broadcast and the second is to an additional half hour of questions and answers.
Money Box Live Additional Content
Meet American Universities in London
On Saturday 1st October 2011 125 US universities are coming to London. If you are serious about studying in the United States this is probably the best single opportunity to learn more about the reality of applying to some of the best universities in the world.
We recommend that you attend the fair which takes place at Kensington Town Hall in London from 11:00am to 5:00pm. You can meet our friends from Florida State University there as well as lots of other world class universities.
To register in advance for the event and save £5.00 follow this link to the online registration.
You can also find a full list of exhibitors attending USA College Day here.
University of Canberra Open House in London
On Thursday 8th September the University of Canberra will be holding an event in London. If you are interested in learning more about studying in Australia, this could be a great opportunity for you to find out more. Please email us to let us know if you would like to come: study@astarfuture.co.uk
When: Thursday 8th September, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Best Western Mostyn Hotel, 4 Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7BY
We look forward to seeing you there!
Courses available in clearing 2011
11th August 2011 (Updated 24th August 2011)
We have just been informed that degrees at SKEMA in France still have availability for British students. The subjects they offer are:
Please contact us directly if you are interested in these programmes so we can direct you to the right person within SKEMA.
All courses listed are taught entirely in English. We can assist any students who are interested in learning more about these vacancies. However, as the situation changes every day, and students from all around the world are competing for these places, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
If you don't see anything suitable listed here you are welcome to contact us. We are learning of new opportunities every day.
Courses available in clearing 2011 (PDF file 44Kb)
Limited Places available at John Cabot University for British students during clearing
As many as 100,000 students are predicted to be left without a place at British universities when A level results are announced on 18th August. Many of these students will have achieved excellent grades but may have missed their requirements by a handful of UCAS points. While entering clearing might be the first way to find a place at university, students can increase their chances of finding an attractive university place by looking abroad.
John Cabot University, an American university in the heart of Rome, has a number of places remaining on its degree courses starting this September. John Cabot University offers a high-quality option for education in English in Europe for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
Subjects available include literature, history, humanities, business, economics and finance, as well as political science and international affairs. JCU's location in Rome offers students the chance to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and gain a world-class education at the same time. JCU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in the USA.
As part of its mission to create international diversity on campus, John Cabot University has made available a generous package of scholarships for British students for entry in September 2011 or early 2012. These scholarships are based on academic achievement at A' level and vary depending on the grades achieved. Students who obtain AAB or above at A' level are entitled to a scholarship of €7,000 per year, whereas students with BCC could obtain up to €3,750 per year. In the most generous situation, tuition fees would be €6,900 per year which is much lower than most English universities will charge in 2012.
To find out more about studying in Rome at John Cabot University please contact us or visit the university website at www.johncabot.edu.
How to find a university abroad during clearing?
A level results day can be the best or worst of your life. This year the stakes are even higher because of the 2012 rise in tuition fees. If you are looking for a place in clearing then your chances could be better abroad.
We work with many universities abroad that have places available during clearing 2011. Here is the experience of one student who thought he would be going to a British university but now studies in Holland.
Ritwik Swain also blogs on our facebook page "Dutch Degrees".
"Results Day 2010. Dreadful news. I hadn't gotten into university. I missed my offer to study Psychology at Warwick. My plans were shattered. What was I going to do? How could I explain this to my friends, my family, my teachers?
"I quickly realised that it was time to stop griping about the past and figure out my plans for the future. Would I re-take my A-levels and reapply next year? Would I accept a clearing place at an institution that didn't appeal to me? Would I go to uni at all?
"I went to see my Head of Sixth Form to discuss my options when my Headmaster, overhearing my grievances, half-jokingly suggested Maastricht University in the Netherlands; after he had read about it in a newspaper. He told me about the fact that they offer courses entirely in English, that fees were around €1700 and that they were quite keen on getting students from the UK.
"From that moment on, the words: "the Netherlands" began ringing in my ears. The thought excited me. I opened my laptop as soon as I got home to find out more. I scrolled down their English-taught course list but couldn't find Psychology. However, this did not deter me. I was sure that there must be other universities in the Netherlands that could offer Psychology in English. I was right. Groningen!
"University of Groningen is a large, well respected, research university in the north of the Netherlands that offers many courses in English language; and importantly for me, it also offers Psychology. The more I began learning about Groningen, the more enticing it became for me. It is a very student-friendly city. It is the world's cycling city. The university ranks well in international league tables. It has excellent sports facilities. What more could I have wanted?
"Studying in the Netherlands has so many advantages: I'm learning languages, I'm saving a lot of money and I'm increasing my international profile - all at a young age; which I hope should bode well for the future when I start looking for a job.
"In my first year at University of Groningen, I could count on one hand how many British people I met in Groningen. But next year, this is set to change as the University has reported around 100 British applicants. When I started looking to study in the Netherlands, I had to find information out directly from individual organisations and institutions. But now, a website is available for British students looking to study in the Netherlands that combines information from all the courses available in English in the Netherlands to one place: www.studyinholland.co.uk "
University of Groningen is the only university in Holland that teaches psychology in English. That particular course is full for 2011 but there is some availability on courses such as American Studies. For more information keep checking the site over the next few weeks.
Announcing the launch of studyinholland.co.uk
21st March 2011
Because of the sheer number of enquiries we receive about studying in the Netherlands we are delighted to announce the launch of www.studyinholland.co.uk.
Studyinholland.co.uk aims to address some of the important questions you may have if you are interested in studying in Holland. You can find courses, learn about the admission process and gather information on the financial reality of studying at a Dutch university.
You can also speak directly to British students at Dutch universities at our new facebook page: search for Dutch Degrees and ask a question!
We still have details of Dutch universities on the A Star Future site so you are welcome to continue using this site when planning to study abroad.
New Universities Added to the Site
1st March 2011
The two universities above, NHTV and Avans are located in the Dutch town of Breda. We visited Breda last week and are delighted to confirm that they have a wide range of courses suitable for British students.
For more information about these universities as well as details of open days please get in touch with us directly.
Ahead of UCAS deadline, students look to study abroad.
11th January 2011
An article in today's Guardian focuses on one student who is applying to the International Relations degree at the University of Groningen.
With tuition fees rising and places at university this year becoming increasingly scarce, you may be interested to investigate the possibilities.
You can find the article here.
Florida State University Open Day in London - Study in the USA and UK
If you are interested in learning more about US university education, an excellent opportunity is coming up in London later this month.
Florida State University offers a gateway program, enabling students to spend their first year in London adjusting to the US curriculum (and to US students!). After this year you spend the remainder of your time at their Florida campus in Tallahassee. This is a great way to help British students take the big step of studying in the USA.
If you would like to find out what is involved we recommend you visit FSU during their Open House.
The event is held on Monday 22nd November from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. There will be a number of presentations, a chance to visit the campus and plenty of opportunity to ask questions to university staff and current students.
You can sign up to attend the event or ask questions about it here. Alternatively you can visit FSU's website for more information about their courses and facilities.
We will have lots more information about FSU on our site in the coming months so be sure to check back regularly to learn more.