Results day can be a traumatic time for students who don't get the results for which they were hoping. This year it could be even worse, bearing in mind that English tuition fees will treble in 2012. There is no reason to resit or reapply when options abroad might still be available for this September and certainly for next February. We will be listing all available courses on the site shortly but here are some words of advice from a student who found himself in this situation last year, Ritwik Swain.

"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 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!

"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.

For 2011, University of Groningen still has places on its American Studies degree and also on its new, English Studies degree. Most other subjects are full but please contact us for late availability.

Term starts on Monday 5th September 2011.