Home > Current students > International students > FAQ's

Frequently asked questions

How much will it all cost?

Annual tuition fees for most undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees for 2007/2008 are set at £8,500. Tuition fees for the MBA, TIC postgraduate degrees and Conservatoire undergraduate degrees are £10,3000. Course fees for the Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes are £5,250.

As for living costs, you should assume that £6000 per year will cover the costs of accommodation, food, transport, clothing, course materials and other incidental expenses.

For a fuller breakdown of fees and living costs go to Fees and Finance.

Are there any scholarships available?

Yes, the University has a number of scholarships and bursaries specially designed for international students: Faculty Bursaries and Loyalty Bursaries are available. For more information visit the section on Scholarships and Bursaries.

Where will I live?

All International Students have priority for a place in self-catering, single study bedrooms in University accommodation close to their place of study for the full duration of their course, subject to application before the start of the academic year. Rooms are reasonably priced, starting at £62.50 per week.

If you wish to live in private accommodation, the University's Accommodation Services office provides plenty of help and advice to assist you in finding a place suitable to your needs.

How do I pay my fees?

Payment of tuition fees is made on a semester basis with equal instalments payable at the beginning of each semester. Fees must be paid in Sterling. If you pay your tuition fee in full during enrolment at the start of your course, you will be entitled to a 5% discount. Payment is made to International Office. You can pay by bankers draft, cheque, debit or credit card.

Are my qualifications acceptable?

The University accepts a wide range of overseas qualifications. To find out if your current qualifications are comparable to British standards, please contact the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) or the University's International Office.

For undergraduate courses you should be educated to a standard comparable to British GCE 'A' Level standard, which may be equivalent to a senior high school or university foundation qualification in your country. In some cases, students may be sufficiently qualified to enter directly into a later stage of one of our courses, for example Year 2 of a three-year course.

For postgraduate courses you should normally hold a qualification which is comparable to a British Bachelor's (Honours) degree. Some postgraduate courses also require you to be above a specific age or have relevant work experience. Please refer to the specific course entry within the Faculty web pages.

The University maintains formal links with a number of overseas colleges, and participating students may be eligible to progress directly onto a course at the University.

Please contact the International Office for further information and advice on qualifications and credit for prior study.

Is there a deadline for applications?

Applications for entry onto undergraduate courses should reach UCAS by 15th January 2005, although all applications received before 30th June 2005 will be considered. The earlier you apply, the greater the chance that there will still be places on the course you want to take. You should also bear in mind that it takes time to obtain visa clearance and make other arrangements pertaining to a lengthy stay in the UK. Applications that reach UCAS in August and September go through a Clearing service that allows students to find places on courses that are not yet full.

If you experience any difficulty applying to UCAS you may submit an application direct to the University at any time prior to the start of the course applied for.

Applicants for postgraduate courses should apply direct to the University. Applications will be considered at any time up to the date of the start of the course, although you are advised to apply well in advance in order increase your chances and give yourself time to arrange your visa, accommodation and other matters.

Application and reference forms can be downloaded from How to Apply.

How do I know if my English is good enough?

In order to benefit from a course of study, you will need a good understanding of the English language. The University has to make sure that you will be able to cope with the demands of the course and of living in the UK. Therefore we ask all international applicants to demonstrate that they have attained a minimum standard of English language ability. This is usually done by taking an English language test and sending us the results. Most students take one of the following:

The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) test administered by the British Council. You will need to achieve an Overall Band Score of 6.0 or above for most courses

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service, USA. You will need to achieve a score of at least 550 from the paper-based test, or 213 from the computer-based test for most of our courses.

The University will also accept other approved qualifications equivalent to the IELTS and TOEFL test scores. For more information see English language requirement.

Please note that these are minimum requirements, and while they apply to most courses, some courses require a higher standard of English. You should carefully check the English language requirements for the course you are interested in before you apply.

What if my English is not strong enough?

If you do not meet the the University's minimum English language requirement, all is not lost! If you narrowly miss the minimum IELTS or TOEFL test score, we may offer you a place on your chosen course on condition that you attend our Pre-sessional English language course, a ten or five week programme that takes place immediately before the start of the academic year. This is an intensive course designed to bring your English language skills up to a suitable standard.

If we feel that your English will not improve enough in either of the pre-sessional courses to cope with academic study, we may offer you a place on the Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes course. This course lasts for either a two semesters (a full academic year) or one semester (January start), and its successful completion will allow you to begin your chosen course of study in the following academic year.

What if I find I am struggling with my English once I start my studies?

We will not let that happen. We have years of experience supporting international students in UK higher education; so if we have offered you a place, it is because we believe that you can cope. And we go out of our way to make sure. All international students will be required as part of the Orientation Programme at the beginning of term to take an English test. We use this to assess your areas of strength and weakness and tailor a programme of English language tuition around your needs. English language classes are offered throughout the year free of charge, and the Learner Development Team can offer further assistance and support.

How do I get a visa for study in the UK?

You should first apply for a place to study at the University. When an offer of a place is accepted and you have satisfied all our entry requirements we will issue you with a Letter of Confirmation of Final Offer. This is an official document, stating the terms and length of your study, and it may be used for visa application purposes. You may then apply directly to your nearest British mission overseas where there is a visa section. For full details of how and where to apply for a visa go to the Government's advice page at UK Visas: Guidance - Students.

You should be aware that information about your enrolment, attendance and progress at this establishment may be passed to the Immigration Office and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office for purposes connected with immigration.

Can I work while I am living in the UK?

Students who are not citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) are usually granted permission to work in the UK part-time up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations. If the work you undertake in term-time is a placement or a recognised part of your studies, then the above restriction may not apply. However, you should be aware that you will only be admitted to the United Kingdom on the understanding that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants without taking employment. Therefore, you cannot rely on finding employment in the United Kingdom to fund your stay here.

These are the legally-binding conditions under which you are granted leave to enter and remain in the UK, and you should on no account violate these conditions. For more information go the Government's UK Visas: Guidance - Students web page.

Can I bring my husband/wife/children to the UK?

You will usually be allowed to bring your husband/wife and any children under the age of 18 with you, as long as you show that you can support and accommodate them for the duration of your stay. They will normally be allowed to work if your leave to remain in the UK as a student lasts for 12 months or more.

Will my husband/wife be allowed to work?

If you are married and your visa gives you leave to remain in the UK as a student for 12 months or more, then your spouse will be permitted to work during their stay.

Can I stay and work in the UK when my studies have finished?

In the past, most degree-course students have found it difficult to obtain permission to work in the UK after their studies have finished. But the UK Government has recently changed its policies to make it easier for some students to stay and work in the UK on successful completion of their studies:

If an employer obtains a work permit for a student who has completed a recognised degree in the UK, the student may become a work permit-holder without having to leave the UK.

Under the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme, students graduating in certain physical sciences, maths and engineering may be able to stay in the UK to look for or take work for 12 months after their graduation without a work permit. A list of approved courses can be found on the Working in the UK website by clicking on Schemes and Programmes.

There may be other conditions under which you would be allowed to stay and work in the UK, for example if you qualified as a highly skilled migrant. For more information go to the UK Visas: Guidance - Work Permit Holders.

Can I extend my stay as a student?

If you decide during your stay that on completion of a degree course you would like to undertake postgraduate study, you may apply for an extension of stay to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, which is part of the Home Office. You will have to provide evidence that you have a confirmed place on a course of study and that you are able to support yourself financially during the period of study. Provided that you can do this, you should be granted an extension of stay until the end of your proposed course.