We offer a wide range of academic and vocational courses that are suitable for International Students.

In the UK courses are referred to by Level, ranging from the lowest, Level 1 to Level 6 (postgraduate courses/higher degrees). As a general rule students who need to apply for a student visa should apply for a full-time course that is Level 3 or above.

The Level 3 courses are:

• A levels
• NVQ Level 3 (National Vocational Qualification)
• BTEC National Diploma/Certificate (Business and Technician Education Council)
• The International Foundation Programme (IFP)
• Access courses

Some courses are not suitable for international students on a student visa:

• Access to Nursing
• Access to Social Welfare (if student wishes to progress to a Social Work course)
• Childcare courses (requiring in depth police checks prior to acceptance onto the course)

For more details please contact the International Office

Entry requirements for the mainstream courses are:

• An English language level of Upper-Intermediate/Advanced or minimum IELTS test score of  5.5 across all disciplines depending on the subject chosen
• 4 GCSEs grades A-C (including Maths and English)
• Diploma or qualification from another country that is regarded as equal to these 4 GCSEs
• Mature students (19 years old and above) without these academic qualifications but with potential and a will to succeed on the course are encouraged to apply
• Students would normally be 18 or over, students who are 16-18 would need to have a named guardian living in the UK
• Deadline for applications from outside the UK is 1^st July.

The cost of a full-time mainstream course for an international student* for September 2010 is £4,750 per academic year.

*By the term international student we mean a non-EU student who requires a student visa to study in the UK