Page 28 - StudyTravel Magazine December 2016 Issue

tertiary

tertiary FOcuS uK

Private colleges

Independent or private tertiary colleges in the UK attract small numbers of overseas students that may be
looking to specialise in a particular subject area or discipline, as Nicola Hancox fi nds out.

tatistics relating to international Pakistan, but the university is keen to (97 per cent of students receive feedback on
participation rates at private increase internationalisation on campus, essays in person versus 31 per cent of Russell
tertiary providers in the UK says Anthony. Group undergraduates studying in the same
S have been lacking in the past. In terms of programme type and level fi eld*) and smaller class sizes also give NCH
However, a report produced by the UK’s off ered, NCH students can study major/ the edge over public sector competitors.
Department for Business Innovation and minor combinations in Art History, “Th e University of Law leads the way
Skills (BIS) titled Understanding the Market Creative Writing, Economics, English, among private providers in terms of carving
of Alternative Higher Education Providers Geography, History, Philosophy, Politics out a niche pathway for students that is
and their Students in 2014 identifi ed some as well as single honours in Law. Th is is applicable to the real world of work and
732 alternative providers (APs) as of spring complemented by the college’s rigorous employment,” relates Anthony. Indeed,
2014, serving somewhere in between liberal arts diploma. Politics & International the university is the fi rst to off er a money
245,000 and 295,000 students. Relations, Economics and PPE (Philosophy, back employment guarantee through its
New College of the Humanities www. Politics and Economics) are popular options 100 per cent Employment Promise. “We
nchlondon.ac.uk (NCH) in London is an among international students, says Elke. believe we are able to adapt more readily to
innovative undergraduate college off ering students’ needs and remain competitive in
a unique, liberal arts-inspired curriculum “We believe we are able an increasingly saturated market place. We
and has attracted international students to remain competitive in a mean what we say: if LPC (the solicitors’
since it was founded in 2011, confi rms Elke qualifying course) students do not obtain
Tinnacher. However, “Now that we have saturated market place” a job in nine months, they will get 100 per
secured the ability to sponsor international cent of their fees back, as cashback and as
student visas in 2015, we are in the happy Istituto Marangoni, meanwhile, credit towards further courses,” he says.
position to welcome the fi rst intake of visa off ers good degree grounding with a Regulatory changes to the visa system
students,” she adds. Currently the college foundation programme encompassing and the removal of part-time and post-study
enjoys good numbers from India, Hong fashion- and design-related subjects, work rights for private tertiary enrolled
Kong, the USA, Brazil and Canada. English language and study skills. Once students are the main threats to recruitment
Private Italian school of fashion completed (and subject to obtaining the for Istituto Marangoni. However, Charlotte
and design, Istituto Marangoni www. required grades), students can enter the adds, “It’s an exciting time to be a private
istitutomarangoni.com/en caters for those fi rst year of an undergraduate degree provider in the UK with more opportunities
serious about a career in fashion. According programme (including BA Honours in opening up and a focus on quality to
to School Director, Charlotte Gorse, the Fashion Business; Fashion Design; Fashion ensure that students are receiving value
college – which has centres in Milan, Design & Accessories or Fashion Styling) for money.” Anthony agrees, noting, “We
Florence, Paris and London and will open at the campus of their choice (subject to can still see huge opportunity; particularly
two more in Mumbai and Miami in 2017 – availability). Fashion Design is very popular for niche, private providers like ourselves.”
has students from 106 diff erent nationalities among students from China and Asia, says nicolahancox@studytravel.network
worldwide, making up its annual population Charlotte, while Sweden makes up a large
of 4,000 per year. At the London campus, proportion of Fashion Business students. At
“15 per cent of the students are from MA level, Indian students are particularly Number of students studying at alternative
providers in England by level of course in
the UK, 35 per cent from other EU drawn to the Fashion and Luxury Brand 2014/15
countries and the remaining 50 per cent Management course, she notes.
Th e private higher education sector is
are international students from non-EU dedicated to providing high-quality tuition All sexes, all modes UK Other European Union non-European Union not known All domiciles
PHOtO: neW cOllegeS OF tHe HuManitieS, uK (ULaw) www.law.ac.uk, part of private Th erefore style and approach to academic First degree 19,285 1,980 2,875 45 24,185
countries,” she adds.
in more niche or specialised subject areas.
London-based University of Law
provision can vary considerably to that of
higher education group Global University
Foundation
270
5
5
260
0
a public provider. At NCH, for example,
Systems www.globaluniversitysystems.com,
degree
is a specialist provider of legal education,
students can expect at least 13 full contact
HnD/HnC
22,605
21,890
500
0
220
hours per week, compared with the average
with tutors that are legal practitioners,
2,600
330
3,185
135
Other
115
10.5 contact hours per week off ered by a
relates Anthony Hackney. Approximately
undergraduate
Russell Group university for humanities
20 per cent of the current student body is
50,245
3,425
165
44,035
Total all modes
2,625
from overseas with strong representation
and social sciences student, says Elke. Th e
Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa)
college’s weekly one-to-one tutorial system
from Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong and
*Findings based on research carried out by Youthsight
deceMber 2016 | Studytravel Magazine | 25