News
Opportunities for Students to Go to University Now
Updated Friday 3rd September 2010
An article appeared in last Friday's Manchester Evening News about the student experience at Prague College. You can read it here. Term starts on 27th September so there is still some time to enrol if you are interested.
Listen to Mark Huntington on BBC Radio West Midlands Morning with Joanne Malin show.
Mark Huntington on BBC Radio West Midlands
Listen to Mark Huntington's appearance on Radio 4's You and Yours programme (Wednesday 18th August).
Mark Huntington on BBC Radio West Midlands
For information about courses available around Europe please visit our most recent newsletter to UK schools and careers advisors here.
For information about Prague College, please visit their special UK clearing page here.
For information about studying in the Netherlands please visit here and here.
We are receiving new ideas of locations and courses all the time. If you would like to be kept informed we recommend you follow us on twitter where we will be most regularly posting updates.
As universities announce that there will be very few, if any, places available during clearing this year, British students are advised to look abroad to continue their education. Many universities in Europe have places available this autumn and, farther afield, Australian and New Zealand universities welcome applications from British students in time for the 2011 academic year.
In recent years, studying overseas has become well established in subjects such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. In 2010 there has also been an increase in students looking abroad as a way of differentiating themselves from their peers and gaining experience vital to a successful career. The increased presence of EU students at British universities is a visible reminder that the graduate job market is highly international.
While studying in English-speaking countries such as USA or Australia is currently unlikely to work out cheaper than studying in England, many degrees at European universities are now taught in English. Furthermore, many universities now offer degrees that are accredited by British universities. For example:
- University of Groningen, The Netherlands: One of the world's top universities, it teaches 8 undergraduate degrees in English in subjects such as psychology and international relations. As of 3rd August, there were still places available on some courses. Annual tuition fees approx. £1,400
- Prague College, Czech Republic: A private university college offering small class sizes and excellent work experience opportunities. All degrees taught in English, some accredited by Teesside University. Annual tuition fees approx. £3,000
Clearing can be a frustrating process for students and teachers alike. When looking for the right move, the answer could simultaneously be further away and closer at hand.
Winner of iPod Touch Announced
20th July 2010
Thanks to all of you who took part in our recent online survey. The iPod Touch was won by Emma Garfield.
We will be running similar competitions later in the year so there will be another opportunity to win soon.
We want to know what you think! - Take the A Star Future Survey
12th May 2010
We think we know some of the main reasons why you should study abroad. However, it is always a good idea to find out which ones are actually most important to you.
For this reason we are delighted to announce the launch of the third annual A Star Future questionnaire. We would really appreciate your help in telling us the best way to communicate with you.
As a small thank you for helping us out you may win a prize.
We are giving away one iPod Touch and two Amazon Gift Certificates for £10 each. All you have to do to stand a chance of winning is to click on the link below and take part:
What does tomorrow's general election mean for future British students?
Wednesday 5th May 2010
One subject has been studiously ignored by politicians in the UK general election: what will happen to tuition fees over the lifetime of the next parliament and beyond. While many individual MPs and candidates have signed pledges indicating that they will not support an increase in fees from the current £3,000 plus inflation this is unlikely to have any impact on reality.
Without an alternative plan for funding the expansion of higher education it is almost certain that the cap on fees will be first raised and then removed. Otherwise we are likely to see more universities experiencing financial difficulties. The University of Cumbria has already applied for emergency funding from HEFCE and has had to reduce the facilities it offers students; while the circumstances of this situation are unique to Cumbria it is likely that other universities will face similar shortfalls.
One proposal put forward by Lord Browne,who chairs the cross party review, is that fees will be allowed to rise by £1,000 per annum until they reflect the cost of the relevant course. In this scenario we could end up with different level of fees to reflect the relative cost of teaching arts or sciences, for example. This would see British universities adopting the Australian finanical model.
This approach differs from lifting the upper limit to between £5,000 and £7,000 which had previously been thought the most likely outcome.
Uncertainty about tuition fees is likely to remain for some time. With all political parties having no immediate plans to reduce fees (any Lib Dem plan to phase out fees will take some time to introduce even in the event of their making substantial gains in tomorrow's election) the only certainty is that they will rise. The bigger issue in terms of access to higher education will be any change to the interest rate payable on student loans; this, too, it seems is likely to rise in the near future meaning that the overall cost of education will be even harder to judge.
What does this mean for international universities? Universities in Australia, New Zealand and, to a lesser extent, Canada and the USA will increasingly be seen as viable alternatives for those students who can finance their entire higher education from their own or their family's resources.
For European universities, we expect a continuing increase in interest not just to state universities but also to private universities. This trend is currently being driven by the shortage of places at British universities and many careers advisors in schools are actively looking to find places abroad for this year's school leavers. One of the unintended consequences of EU membership is that British students can find far more generous higher education opportunities in other countries. In that context perhaps the most important development in the last weeks has been the European Court of Justice's decision to allow some European countries to restrict the number of students coming from other EU member states.
Announcing the 2010 Universita Bocconi Discover Your Talent week.
12th April 2010
If you are interested in studying economics at university you might be interested in this opportunity to experience a world class university in Italy. Every year Bocconi organises a summer week to give international students the chance to work out if it could be the right kind of education for them.
During the Summer Week, that will be organized on 21-24 June 2010 you'll have the opportunity to:
• Experience 5 days on campus at Bocconi;
• Attend academic level classes among the subjects that comprise our Bachelor of International Economics, Management and finance;
• Meet senior students and professors who will give you an insight into academic and student life at Bocconi;
• Sit a special entry test valid for admission to 2011-2012 Bachelor programs;
• Meet foreign students from all around Europe as well as Italian students;
• Discover Milan and the Italian way of life!
You can take part in the summer week in English or in Italian- it's entirely up to you!
How does it work?
Students who are interested in attending the summer week must be in their second to last year of high school. You should be taking your AS levels within the the next months. You also need to demonstrate a good "grade point average" which basically means you need to have good GCSE grades (certainly Cs or above in most subjects).
If you wish to attend the summer school there is an online application form where you can start the procedure. You will need to involve your teachers in this process (usually we find that economics teachers need to be involved but it may be possible through your 6th form tutor or Head of Year). The deadline for applications is Saturday 24th April.
Is this the best careers advice we can offer British students?
19th March 2010
On Wednesday this week Mary Curnock Cook, the Chief Executive of UCAS confirmed that as many as 50,000 students with good A’ level grades will miss out on places at UK universities this year. This is the first acknowledgement that it is the “better” students who are likely to be unsuccessful in their application or disappointed in the type of university that will accept them.
The only advice offered by UCAS is to defer entry for at least one year before reapplying, or think about going to university later in life. Aside from the fact that the UK job market makes it almost impossible to enter many professions without a degree, does asking students to wait until universities are ‘ready’ for them qualify as sensible careers advice?
While this will undoubtedly prove a boon to the GAP year industry it is unlikely to assist students who are increasingly conscious of the financial impact of higher education or the difficulty of finding employment as a young person in today’s economy.
For many students there is another option: going to university abroad. Many high quality universities around the world are ready and able to accept applications from British students. While there is still likely to be a high level of competition for places at the best international universities, many students will find that they are able to get on with their life plans without an unintended and unwished-for hiatus.
British universities are not the only route open to British students. There are plenty of alternatives in countries as nearby as France, Ireland and the Netherlands or further afield in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
A Star Future has been advising schools and students about such opportunities since 2006 and we anticipate a busy few months.
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.