Prospectus
NOTTINGHAM COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL Part of South Nottingham College Beeston Centre t: +44 (0)115 884 2218 or +44 (0)115 884 2804 e: international@snc.ac.uk
WELCOME To NOTTINGHAM COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL Nottingham College International is part of South Nottingham College, one of the largest government funded colleges in the UK. Nottingham College International is the name we are known by overseas, and encompasses all of our services for international students. The College is located in the centre of the UK in the city of Nottingham, a vibrant, culturally diverse city, with an intriguing history. Nottingham is a popular destination for students from all over the world. Nottingham College International (NCI) specialises in offering international students courses that will prepare you for further study at a British university. Whether you simply need to improve your level of English, or to take an International Foundation Programme in order to qualify for entry to university, we have a course for you.
KEY FACTS: • UK Border Agency Highly Trusted Sponsor for international student recruitment. • Working with international students for over 30 years. • Accredited by the British Council for teaching English as a Foreign Language. • Foundation Programmes validated by the University of Nottingham. • Excellent student progression record to high-ranking universities. • Studying at a Further Education college means that you can work for up to 10 hours per week if you are on a Tier 4 General Student Visa to help fund your studies.
We have a long-standing partnership with the University of Nottingham for the development and validation of our Foundation Programmes, and this combined with other university partnerships offers excellent progression opportunities to high-ranking universities. Our other University Partners include: Aston, Bath, Leeds, Loughborough, Nottingham Trent, Oxford Brookes, Sheffield Hallam and York, with most of these offering scholarships specifically for high-achieving students from Nottingham College International. We are accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), which means our EFL courses and support services for international students are subject to rigorous inspection. This, combined with our status as a Highly Trusted Sponsor with the UK Border Agency, means that you can be sure you are choosing a reputable institution with high quality teaching. In addition to Foundation Programmes and EFL courses, the College offers a wide range of vocational courses, from BTEC National Diplomas through to university level courses. Whatever you choose to study, we are confident that NCI will provide you with a high quality learning experience and help you to achieve your goals, whilst offering you the support you need to make your time with us enjoyable and memorable.
Nottingham College International
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Jessie, a former student from Hong Kong
ABOUT NOTTINGHAM With its central location, Nottingham is ideally situated to enable you to explore the rest of the UK. It is just two hours by train to London, with major cities like Birmingham and Manchester within easy reach. For a break from the city, Sherwood Forest (home of the legend of Robin Hood), and the beautiful countryside of the Peak District National Park are close by. Nottingham is perhaps most famous for the legend of Robin Hood, but there are many other interesting facts about Nottingham that you might not already know: • Top British fashion designer, Paul Smith is from Nottingham. • The first “Boots” shop was opened in Nottingham by John Boot in 1849, which began as a herbalist store. The Boots business was later developed by his son, Jesse Boot, who took control of the company in 1877. • Two of the most famous British writers, Lord Byron and D H Lawrence lived in Nottinghamshire. • Nottingham has a long-standing tradition of lace making. • The oldest pub in England, “Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem”, can be found in the city. • Nottingham has two Football League clubs – Nottingham Forest (made famous under the management of Brian Clough in the late 1970s and early 1980s for back-to-back European Cup wins), and Notts County (the oldest Football League club in the UK). • The city has an international test cricket ground at Trent Bridge, which is also home to Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. • Famous sports people from Nottinghamshire include world champion boxer, Carl Froch, former world number one golfer, Lee Westwood and olympic medal-winning swimmer, Rebecca Adlington. • Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan mansion in Nottingham, features as “Wayne Manor” in the 2012 film “Batman, The Dark Knight Rises”. The city has excellent shopping facilities, with a good mix of “high street” and designer shops, two large shopping centres and several international supermarkets offering foods from all over the world. Finally, when you need a break from studying, Nottingham is perfect for socialising. There are a huge number of bars and restaurants to choose from, as well as cinemas, theatres, art galleries and the Capital FM Arena, which is home to the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team and also hosts pop and rock concerts by well-known international singers and groups.
Nottingham College International
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Nottingham is a very beautiful city, with lots of attractions for tourists. I love living in Nottingham because of the environment. The Victoria Shopping Centre is amazing, with lots of attractive shops, and the Broadmarsh Centre is also good. Nottingham has got loads of opportunities for students, so I love living in Nottingham. Elizabeth, Nigeria.
Life as a student at Nottingham College International We appreciate that coming to the UK as an international student can be daunting, which is why as a student at Nottingham College International you can be sure you will receive a high standard of care and support. As a state-funded college, safeguarding of students is a priority, particularly those under the age of 18, and we therefore have specific rules and services for this age group in relation to travelling from the airport to Nottingham and accommodation. The minimum age at which students can be accepted for study at the College is 16, with some courses having higher minimum age requirements – please see course information for details.
Students aged 18 and over may also request Homestay and we will do our best to find a suitable place. If we are unable to allocate a Homestay place, we will offer suitable alternative accommodation.
Residential Accommodation The College has its own halls of residence accommodation at Mooregate House, which is located in Beeston, approximately 10 minutes’ walk away from the College’s Beeston Centre. This type of accommodation is for students aged 18 or over only.
Free Airport Pick-up A free airport pick-up is offered to all students under the age of 18. We also offer a free airport pick-up to those students aged 18 and over, who will be coming to NCI to study a course equivalent to a full academic year (a minimum of 34 weeks). To book a free airport pick-up you should complete the “Transfer Request Form” sent with your “Offer Letter” and return it to the International Office at least two weeks before you travel to the UK. For those aged 18 or over, who are either coming to study a shorter programme, or who would prefer to make their own way to Nottingham, there are plenty of train and coach services running between the major airports and Nottingham. Details and useful websites are included in the “Pre-Arrival Guide”. Alternatively, the International Office can arrange an airport pick-up on request, for which there will be a standard charge payable directly to the taxi driver. Prices vary depending on the arrival airport – please ask the International Office for details. Accommodation The International Office offers an Accommodation Service to help you find suitable accommodation before you arrive in the UK. The following accommodation is available to book in advance:
Homestay This involves living in a British home as a member of the household. It might be with one or two adults, or with a family with children. You will have your own bedroom, but you will share common living areas and bathroom facilities with other members of the household. This is an excellent way to improve your English and learn more about British life.
All of our Hosts have completed Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks prior to being appointed, and are inspected regularly to ensure the facilities they provide comply with College guidelines.
Please note: Homestay is compulsory for students aged under 18 unless you plan to live with a nominated legal guardian and we receive written confirmation from your parents. Therefore priority will be given to under 18s when allocating places.
Nottingham College International
Mooregate House is made up of nine flats, each containing five private, en-suite bedrooms and a shared kitchen/dining area. All rooms have free, basic wireless internet access.
We also have a small number of rooms reserved for NCI at privately-owned residential accommodation in the centre of Nottingham. These can be booked through the International Office, but you will sign your contract and pay accommodation fees directly to the accommodation provider. Please contact the International Office for details of current availability.
5 Some students prefer to live in a shared, furnished house or flat with other students. This type of accommodation is suitable for students aged 18 or over, and can often be a cheaper option as you will share rent, heating and lighting bills, food costs and cleaning. If you choose this type of accommodation you will have to sign a tenancy agreement, which is a private, legally-binding agreement between you and the landlord or letting agent (not involving the College). The College cannot arrange private rented accommodation for you, but can offer advice on how to do this on your arrival in the UK. If you plan to find private rented accommodation on arrival, please ensure you make interim accommodation arrangements before you travel to the UK, for example, book a hotel or arrange to stay with a friend for a few days. The International Office will be able to advise you on hotels that are close to the College. Further information on all types of accommodation and how to book College-arranged accommodation can be found in the “Pre-Arrival Guide”. International Office The International Office is located at Beeston Centre and the team are here to support you right from when you submit your application, through to when you complete your studies at the College. As well as arranging your Induction Programme, we offer assistance with finding suitable accommodation and arranging travel from the airport to Nottingham. We also run daily “drop-in” sessions to offer advice and support during your time at the College. The team has a dedicated Welfare Advisor, who is available to help with problems of a more sensitive nature. An out-of-hours emergency helpline is also available for international students, so you can feel secure knowing there will always be someone available to help you, even when the College is closed.
Personal Tutor All international students are allocated a Personal Tutor, who will offer advice and guidance related to your course and discuss your progress with you. Personal Tutors also work closely with the International Office to monitor attendance and help students with any problems. They also work with your course tutors to produce formal reports on your progress twice a year, or as required by your Embassy or Sponsor (for students sponsored by their government or company). Social Programme The International Office organises a programme of social activities for international students each year to provide you with opportunities to meet other international students and visit places of interest around the UK. Annual events include a Welcome Party, “Uni 4 U” University Fair, and cultural celebrations (e.g. Christmas; Eid; Lunar New Year) that are free for all international students. We also offer some trips to Partner Universities and day trips to cities/tourist attractions that are free to those students studying on a full-time, full-year programme.* In addition to this, there are a small number of trips that students are required to pay for if they choose to participate – for example, to very popular tourist attractions or cities including overnight stays. A leaflet giving full details of the Social Programme, including eligibility for free places and participation fees will be provided to all students at Induction. *Please note: these trips are also open to students enrolled on short courses for a small participation fee – please see the Social Programme leaflet provided at Induction for details.
Abdulaziz, a former student from Saudi Arabia
Full details of services offered will be provided in the “Guide for Students” that you will receive during Induction.
Courses and Progression Opportunities Nottingham College International has a range of courses that will help you to gain the knowledge and skills you need to progress to a British university or to your chosen career.
All of our classes for international students take place between the hours of 9.00am and 6.00pm in line with UK Border Agency requirements.
All of the courses shown below in green are available at the College.
International Student Progression Each year many international students progress from NCI to British universities. This year’s most popular University destinations are:
Detailed information on our courses for international students can be found in the Course Information Sheets enclosed. These provide information on what you will study, entry requirements and how the course is assessed. For information on course fees and term dates please ask for a copy of our “Course Fees and Term Dates” leaflet. Most of our international students choose to study EFL or International Foundation Programmes and are based at the Beeston Centre, which is where the International Office is based. If you choose to study a vocational course this might be taught at one of our other Centres, but you will be notified of this in your Offer Letter. You will still be able to access the services of the International Office if you study at a different Centre, but there will not usually be International Office staff available on-site every day.
Nottingham College International
• Nottingham • Nottingham Trent • Aston • Bath • Leeds • York • Manchester • Oxford Brookes
HOW TO APPLY The Application Process for International Students is detailed below. It is very important that you follow the instructions carefully and include all of the relevant supporting documents to avoid delays in your application being processed. 1. Please complete a “Nottingham College International Application Form”. You can download the form from our website (www.nottinghamcollegeinternational.co.uk), or contact the International Office to request a form to be sent to you by email. Our telephone number for Admissions is: +44 115 884 2804. Our e-mail address is: international@snc.ac.uk 2. Please send your completed form to the above email address, along with the following supporting documents: • Certified copies and English translation of all of your examination certificates, including any English language qualifications you have taken. • Certified copies and English translation of your school reports for the last two years. • A clear copy of your passport showing the identification page as well as any current visa you hold for the UK. • If you are applying for an art and design-related course, or International Foundation in Architecture, you should also send examples of your design work. These can be sent by email, or on CD (please refer to individual “Course Information Sheet” for full details of the artwork that you should submit). • If you are currently studying in the UK you will need to submit additional documents, including your recent academic achievement, attendance report and a letter of registration confirmation from your current institution. 3. We will consider your application and decide whether to offer you a place. We aim to process all applications within five working days if all of the required supporting documents have been submitted. If your application is successful you will receive an “Offer Letter”. The Offer Letter will include an Application Reference Number, which you should quote in all correspondence with the College. Your offer might be “conditional”, which means you will have to achieve the specified criteria before we can admit you onto your chosen course. 4. To secure your place you will need to return the “Offer Acceptance Form” sent with your Offer Letter, and pay a deposit*. The deposit will be 60% of your course fees and the exact amount will be shown in your Offer Letter, along with details of how to pay. If your offer is conditional, you will need to wait until you have achieved the conditions specified in your offer letter before you can apply for your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), but you may still pay a deposit to secure a provisional place. The deposit will be refunded minus a £100 administration fee if you fail to meet the conditions of your offer. You should also return your “Accommodation Request Form” at this point, to allow us to allocate suitable accommodation for you, and to try to ensure you get your first choice of accommodation. Continued on next page
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HOW TO APPLY 5. When we receive your deposit, we will issue a “Receipt of Deposit Letter” to you. Your CAS will be issued to you three months before the start of your course if your offer is unconditional. If you hold a conditional offer, you will need to provide evidence that you have met the conditions of your offer before a CAS can be issued. Please send the relevant documents to the International Office, quoting your full name and Application Reference Number. We will then change your offer to unconditional and issue a new offer letter. 6. We will issue your CAS to you by letter three months before the start of your course to enable you to apply for your visa. If you are applying less than three months before the start of the course, we will issue your CAS once we receive your deposit if you hold an unconditional offer. Please note: If you are offered a course under the Student Visitor Visa route, we will send you a “Confirmation Letter” for your visa application (not a CAS).
7. When you have obtained your visa, please contact the International Office to confirm your arrival details. You will need to return your “Transfer Request Form” if you are eligible for a free airport pick-up. If you intend to make your own way to the College (for students aged 18 or over only), you should notify the International Office of your arrival details so your accommodation can be ready for you. Please note: Arrival information and Transfer Request Forms must be submitted at least two weeks before you travel, otherwise the College cannot guarantee airport pick-ups requested or availability of accommodation. 8. If your visa is refused, we will refund your deposit to you minus a £100 administration fee, providing the refusal is not due to your own negligence. You will need to submit a copy of your Visa Refusal Notice to the International Office to claim your refund. *Important note: deposits are only usually refundable in the event of a visa refusal, or failure to meet the conditions set in a conditional offer. Deposits will not be refunded for any other reason, unless there are very exceptional circumstances. All deposit refunds will be subject to a £100 administration fee. Please see our “Terms and Conditions of Acceptance for Study” for full details of our refund policy.
Nottingham College International
Prospectus
NOTTINGHAM COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL Part of South Nottingham College Beeston Centre t: +44 (0)115 884 2218 or +44 (0)115 884 2804 e: international@snc.ac.uk