Representative's Guide

Representatives‘ Guide

Welcome from the International Director Despite all of the challenges and uncertainties in the world right now, Northumbria University continues to enjoy success in attracting significant numbers of high-quality students from countries worldwide.

The number of undergraduates and postgraduates who travel from outside of the UK to our campuses in Newcastle upon Tyne continues to thrive and this year the University has over 3,500 international students in the United Kingdom, and around 6,000 studying Northumbria programmes at our partner institutions overseas. I would like to thank all of our representatives for the dynamic contribution they make to our international student recruitment activity. We are delighted this year to have moved into the top 30 in the UK rankings, as well as our position as the fastest rising UK university in the THE World Rankings. Our focus on quality is paying dividends, and we are delighted to be on that journey with you. We are also very pleased that the UK Government has introduced the Graduate Route in 2021, with the corresponding benefits for international students and their ability to stay in the UK for up to two years post-graduation to find work.

Representatives of Northumbria University overseas bear a high degree of responsibility. Maintaining quality and ensuring that students are well prepared for their studies, is just as important as meeting recruitment targets. It is vital that representatives help us to ensure that students have appropriate academic achievement and potential, as well as the required level of fluency in written and spoken English to give them the best chance of succeeding on their chosen programme. With your help, our aim is also to be as responsive and supportive as possible to prospective students, when they are considering studying with us.

However, we realise that our success is shared, and the aim is for us to work together as closely as possible, to ensure both parties achieve their goals. To that end, we will be contacting you more frequently, looking to understand what support you need from us, and ensuring you have all the information you need to perform effectively.

Equally, you will be getting regular contact from your main liaison person at Northumbria, to make sure you have all the training, support and materials you require.

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Northumbria is a research-engaged and business-focused institution, which is aiming to strengthen and further its position as one of a new type of excellent university; indeed as a challenger university. Strong in the fundamental activities of research and teaching, the University’s commitment to quality is reflected be the consistent rise in its admissions standards, as well as our national and international rankings.

Northumbria works closely with industry and the professions to ensure that degree programmes are recognised and greatly valued by employers around the world.

We look forward to many more years of successful partnership.

Rob Carthy

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We have designed this guide to help you learn more about the University, how we can work with and support you, and also to identify the staff from both the Newcastle campus and each of our Regional Offices. We have outlined some of the most important pieces of information which will help you advise students as well as the processes we require you to follow. This guide is not meant to contain every single piece of information, much of which can change over time or with new governmental guidelines, etc. This guide should instead accompany other information found on our website. We will provide updates at our agent conference and of course during the face-to-face contact that is so important with Country managers, academic and Regional Office staff.

Our support for you Northumbria University has a dedicated Agent Services Team who should be your first port of call for anything related to agreements, and commission invoices and payments.

They can be contacted by emailing fc.agent@northumbria.ac.uk . The University provides a number of training and information resources to help you with the task of advising and recruiting prospective students https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/international/agentand-representative-zone/ The University’s Country Managers and Regional Offices will be pleased to help if you have any questions about course entry requirements, fees or any other aspect of being a student at Northumbria.

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Marketing and advertising To help raise Northumbria’s profile in specific markets Northumbria may undertake a range of marketing activity.This may include attending exhibitions and fairs, interviewing students in representative offices or, on some occasions , advertising either online or in the press. Wherever possible Northumbria will try and undertake measurable activity which will coincide with staff visiting a particular region. It will not always be possible to make specific reference to individual representatives. If visiting representatives’ offices to interview students Northumbria would expect the representative to have done its own marketing to provide suitable candidates.

Any advertising publicity or marketing material (including web based) which features the Northumbria University name or logo must be emailed to u1.agent.comms.events@northumbria.ac.uk for approval prior to publication. A copy of the final advertisement or news item taken from the publication should be forwarded to u1.agent.comms.events@northumbria.ac.uk

addition to raising its profile, Northumbria University produces a range of communications and publications to support representatives and potential students which can be found on The Agent zone https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/international/agent-andrepresentative-zone/. In addition to this guide Northumbria University will send electronic communications directly to students to provide them with information, such as our early payment schemes or other useful information which may assist successful conversion. The Northumbria website is also a very important tool for students and representatives, and we list our current representatives by country, as well as providing a range of other useful information. Visit northumbria.ac.uk/ international to find out more

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Course information In addition to contact from our Regional Offices, we will keep our representatives up to date with new courses via the website and update emails, which also contains other information which may help promote the University. The Northumbria website contains course listings which will allow students and representatives to obtain information on course fees and possible discounts, visit https:// www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/ for more information.

London Campus.

We have a range of courses available at our London campus. For more information see our website https://london.northumbria.ac.uk/courses/

Amsterdam Campus Northumbria University's partnership with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) allows us to offer accredited postgraduate qualifications For more information see our website https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/ourcampuses/amsterdam/

Accommodation With 5000 rooms, we have something to suit everyone. All students living in the city are in walking distance of our world class campus as well as Newcastle City Centre.

For more information see our website https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-atnorthumbria/accommodation/ Everyone is welcome in our accommodation, from new and returning students, to undergraduates and postgraduates, both from the UK and around the world.

In order to allow students to apply for accommodation, you must ensure that their personal email address is used in their application as this will be used to generate a log in for them on the system. This log in cannot be sent to an agent address due to data protection regulations.

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Review of performance and contract renewal The University aims to develop and support long-term partnerships with professional representatives. We will review the performance of all representatives every other year in most cases (usually in April).This review will take account of:

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The quality and completeness of applications

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Conversion ratio of applications to enrolments

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Visa success rate

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The number of students with a visa who do not enrol

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The number of students who withdraw, defer or fail to attend after arrival in the UK

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Academic achievement, grades, and English qualifications on entry

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Professional and ethical conduct

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Code of good practice for Northumbria representatives We greatly value the contribution of you, our representatives overseas, who have played an important role in helping us to become one of the UK’s most successful universities. The work you do in representing Northumbria and promoting the University to potential students is of great importance counselling them, helping them with the application process, guiding them on their visa application and preparing them for their studies in the UK. We would ask at all of our representatives follow the British Council Guide to Good Practice for Education Agents https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/guide-to-good-practice-foreducation-agents.pdf The Code highlights some of the most important things we ask our representatives to do and it should be read in conjunction with the Representative Agreement.

We recommend the British Council Training Suite for agents https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/education-agents/training-agents .

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Good ambassadors The University appoints agents to represent the University in an effective and professional manner and to maintain the highest standards of student recruitment practice and providing an excellent student experience. The University places real importance on the whole student experience, not only during their studies but from the point of first enquiry. We would like the level of care you provide to the student before his or her departure for Northumbria to match the level of care they receive during their time at the University.

Selecting good students Northumbria has a high entry standard amongst the modern universities and our aim is to recruit capable students who, through their achievements, improve the reputation of the University as a whole. Also we are interested in only recruiting those students who are serious about studying and completing their course. Applicants should clearly meet the academic and English language requirements for their chosen course. If a student’s qualifications are ‘border-line’ there is less chance of being accepted and their application may take longer to process.If you are unsure about the entry requirements please check before sending an application.

Students Changing Representatives Northumbria actively discourage Representatives transferring or seeking to transfer any student or prospective student from or to another agent. This is because situations arise where the initial agent undertakes the majority of the work with the application and support for the student, to then find out the student has gone elsewhere so they won’t be paid commission for their work. However, if there is evidence of problems or a lack of support from the initial agent resulting in the student needing to transfer, we accept that a change may be necessary, and we will investigate the issues fully if the agent in question is another of our representatives with a view to reaching a resolution that is fair to all involved.

As stated in the Representative agreement terms you cannot claim commission for students who have applied directly and already hold an offer. Payment disputes in which more than one agent claims for a student will be settled by the University, at our discretion.We will make a fair and reasonable judgement in each case, but will not pay out more than the value of the single commission payment for the enrolment.

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Finding the right course Your students should fully understand the course they have applied for and in their Personal Statement they should explain their reasons for choosing this course. A detailed course description is normally available on our website https:// www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria However, if a student needs any additional information please contact us with any queries.

Checking financial ability Check that your students have the financial resources to cover all their study and living costs, in addition to the financial evidence they are required to show their visa. It is vital that they are able to complete their course without any financial problems.

Checking original documents Thoroughly check that all original academic and financial documents are genuine before you submit the application. Any students found to be submitting fraudulent documents will have their place withdrawn.

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Giving clear and accurate information Provide students with clear information about the University, their studies and about living in the UK, so that they are fully prepared before they accept their offer and travel to the UK and so that their expectations are matched by their experience at Northumbria.

This includes information about:

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Tuition fees, payment and deposit terms

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The cost of living in UK

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Courses

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Accommodation

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Terms and Conditions of Offer

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https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/support-for-students/ international-student-support/information-before-travelling to-the-uk/ Your students must be familiar with the latest regulations and application procedure for student visa application and for visa renewal, in case they need to extend their leave during their studies. It is important that students are made aware of the costs of visa application.

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Student Visa conditions and Student route Sponsor duties Brief your students about the importance of knowing and complying with the conditions of their visa.

Please make students aware that the University has a duty to fulfil certain record keeping and reporting duties as a Student Route Sponsor. As part of these duties the University is required to keep copies of students’ passports, visas and their contact details and also to report to the UKVI on Students Route sponsorship and enrolment status. The University is also required to inform the UKVI of students who do not enrol at the University by the course start date or if they withdraw, interrupt their studies, are excluded or do not attend their programme.

Attending class It is particularly important for students to attend their entire course but if there are any problems affecting their attendance they should discuss this with their School immediately

Paying fees on time

nonattendance

Applying early

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Enrolling on time

offer

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Agent Commission Payments Schedule Calendar of Key Dates 2021/22 English Summer School and Semester One Payment Schedule (Phase 1):

20 September – 18 October 2021 Enrolment Period - Tuition fee checks to be completed by Northumbria University.

Please note, invoices are no longer required.

25 October – 5 November 2021 Statement emails sent to agents.

15 November 2021 Deadline for Agents queries on statement emails.

On or around 17 December 2021 Payments should reach agent bank accounts.

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Semester Two Payment Schedule (Phase 2):

17 January – 18 February 2022 Enrolment Period - Tuition fee checks to be completed by Northumbria University.

Please note, invoices are no longer required.

28 February – 11 March 2022 Statement emails sent to agents.

18 March 2022 Deadline for Agents queries on statement emails.

On or around 22 April 2022 Payments should reach Agent bank accounts.

Bonus Payments

Any bonus payments due will be processed automatically after 22 April 2022

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CONTACT US Applicant Services Application queries E: bc.applicantservices@northumbria.ac.uk Agent Services Team Commission and agreements queries E: fc.agent@northumbria.ac.uk Events and Sales Support Visits, materials, communications and conference queries E: u1.agent.comms.events@northumbria.ac.uk

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REGIONAL OFFICES Thailand – Bangkok Zarak Rafiq, Regional Manager T: (+66) 2044 6430 E: thaioffice@northumbria.ac.uk Thailand is also responsible for Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan and Vietnam.

P.R. China – Beijing Sunny Sun, Head of China Operations T: (+86) 10 6538 8135 /36 /37 /39 E: chinaoffice@northumbria.ac.uk Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur Nina Jalaluddin, Head of Development (Malaysia Region) T: (+60) 3 2287 8080 E: malaysiaoffice@northumbria.ac.uk Malaysia is also responsible for Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea.

India – Gurugram Ashwini Thakur, Regional Director, South Asia T: (+91) 124 402 0550 E: er.indiaoffice@northumbria.ac.uk India is also responsible for Bangladesh and Nepal Nigeria – Lagos Doyin Oladiran T: (+234) 8188 157535 E: nigeriaoffice@northumbria.ac.uk Nigeria is also responsible for Ghana

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Neil Slater International Recruitment Manager, Middle East and Africa Country Manager for Sri Lanka T: (+44 )(0) 7968 306893 E: Neil.Slater@northumbria.ac.uk

Sam Smith Country Manager for: Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar. Morocco T: +44 (0) 7468 700888 E: samuel3.smith@northumbria.ac.uk

Iain Harrison Country Manager for: Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE T: +44 (0) 7775 788070 E: iain.harrison@northumbria.ac.uk

Isabel Sardo International Sponsors Coordinator Country Manager for: Kenya T: +44 (0) 7710 115355 E: Isabel.Sardo@northumbria.ac.uk

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Iain Harris IRM, Rest of World T: +44 (0)191 349 5257 E: Iain.Harris@northumbria.ac.uk

Sohvi Riekkinen Country Manager; E Asia – China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, T: +44 (0) 74 6870 0873 E: sohvi.riekkinen@northumbria.ac.uk

Lina Sernaite Country Manager; Europe T: +44 (0) 7468 700886 E: lina.sernaite@northumbria.ac.uk

Jack Williams Amsterdam Campus T: +44 (0) 778 044 3195 E: jack9.williams@northumbria.ac.uk

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