agent handbook working as a partner of the college. handbook 2.pdfteaching english and essential...
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About Uxbridge College London
Uxbridge College has been established since 1965, and is one of the top colleges in
London. It provides international students with a great range of Pre-University and Pathway
to Degree courses, and equips students with the skills needed to prepare for further study at
university, or to go out into the workplace.
The College cares about its students’ success and offers the right teaching and support
needed to help them achieve their qualification. Uxbridge College has some of the highest
student success rates in London - it doesn’t just offer fantastic classroom support, it also
helps students acquire the right skills to make the next move.
Student safety and welfare is important at Uxbridge College, and the College is dedicated to
creating an environment where all individuals have the opportunity to achieve their full
potential, and gain a feeling of self esteem for and from all others.
Location
Uxbridge College is based on two modern campuses at the heart of West London’s
multicultural community - Uxbridge and Hayes – both of which are based in Outer London.
The campuses are a 20 minute drive from one of the UK’s major international airports –
Heathrow, and are easily accessible via several other major transport routes. The excellent
public transport links also make it easy to be in central London in under an hour, so students
can enjoy the great range of attractions and activities that London has to offer.
Top 10 reasons for choosing
Uxbridge College London
1) A Successful College
Uxbridge College is one of the most
successful further education colleges in
the UK. Our success rates are among the
highest in London, and in 2008 Ofsted
judged Uxbridge College to be
‘outstanding’. We also continue to
maintain our Highly Trusted Sponsor
status on the UKBA Register of Tier 4
Sponsors.
2) Expert Staff
Our staff are highly qualified, with industry
experience, so students can learn the
skills employers demand from industry
experts. They can share their knowledge
about the area or industry they have
worked in and give practical tips and
advice so that students can make the
most of their study.
3) A Safe and Welcoming College
We take every step to ensure a student’s
safety, health and wellbeing. We
welcome students whatever their
background and previous experience.
4) Getting Results
You need qualifications that get you
places. Whether students want to go onto
further study at the College or at
university, or go straight into work, we’ll
help them get there!
5) Two Well-Located Campuses
The College is based on two campuses –
Uxbridge and Hayes. Both are only 20
minutes from Heathrow Airport, making it
an ideal place for international students to
study. The campuses are near to town
centres and have excellent transport links.
6) Fantastic Facilities
Over the last few years more than £55m
has been invested to ensure to ensure the
campuses at Uxbridge and Hayes provide
top quality teaching spaces, social areas
and sports facilities.
7) Curriculum Support
Uxbridge College provides a range of Pre-
University & Pathway to Degree courses
that can help students gain entry into
university. If a student is seeking a career
in the medical, engineering, business or
computing professions, we can provide
courses that suit their needs and
aspirations.
8) A University Education in London
Our Pathway to Degree Programmes are
a flexible way to study university level
courses at an affordable price. In
2012/2013, 93% of our international
students progressed directly into the third
year of a degree course on completion of
one of these courses.
9) Supporting Your Success
With UCAN – the Uxbridge College Advice
Network – help is on hand whenever you
need it. Our dedicated staff offers support
to help students through their studies and
personal issues.
10) Get Involved
Students want more than just great
facilities and top quality teaching – they
want to make the most out of student life
and have some fun too. All of our
international students are invited to take
part in our volunteering scheme, relax in
social areas and get involved in a wide
range of activities.
Points of Pride
Highly Trusted Status
Uxbridge College continues to maintain its
Highly Trusted Status on the UK Border
Agency’s Tier 4 Register of Sponsors for a
fourth consecutive year – making it one of
the best colleges in London for
international students to study at.
Ofsted Outstanding
Following the one-week visit in May 2008,
inspectors from the government's
education inspection body Ofsted gave
the college the highest possible accolade
for its standards, and judged Uxbridge
College to be ‘Outstanding’ - the highest
possible result that they can give.
National Kitemark for Science and
Engineering
Uxbridge College has been recognised for
excellence in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Maths (STEM) with a
national kitemark. The prestigious STEM
Assured Status is awarded to those who
can demonstrate that they provide high
quality and employer-led training in the
subjects.
Beacon Status
Uxbridge College has been awarded
‘Beacon Status’ for providing outstanding
education and training. This accolade is
given to colleges, sixth-forms and private
training firms which have proved they are
run to the highest standard and offer
excellent education and work-related
training.
Matrix Standard
Uxbridge College has achieved the Matrix
quality of service kite mark which is the
UK’s national quality standard for
organisations that deliver information,
advice and guidance on learning and
work.
Facilities
Uxbridge and Hayes Campus both feature
spacious, comfortable classrooms
equipped with interactive whiteboards and
relaxing social spaces. All facilities are
industry standard, and include specialist
studios, laboratories and workshops,
which provide students with a realistic
working environment.
The facilities include:
£5m IT & Media block
A high-spec three storey teaching block
on the Uxbridge Campus, which houses
all the latest in specialist IT and media
facilities, such as:
Computer suites
Soundproofed audio and film
studios
Media control rooms
Green screen studios for CGI and
3D filming
Graphic art studios
Mac labs
High-speed computers for games
developments
CISCO training suite
The Technical Institute
The Technical Institute is expertly
equipped for anyone wanting to boost
their university and employment
prospects, and complete formal
qualifications in a range of Engineering
disciplines.
£6m Sports and Leisure Development
Uxbridge Campus’ Sport England
standard facilities include a state-of-the-art
sports hall for 5-a-side football, cricket,
badminton, basketball, netball and
volleyball, plus a fitness suits, and two
outdoor multi-use games areas.
Learning Resource Centres
Based at each campus, the Learning
Resource Centres (LRCs) offer full library
facilities including books, e-books, DVDs,
newspapers, journals and audio visual
resources, and IT
suites providing access to computers to
help with studies.
Faculties & Courses
Uxbridge College London
Business
BTEC L3 Extended Diploma in Business
Access to Higher Education in Business
International Foundation Diploma
BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business
Computing
Access to Higher Education Diploma in Computing
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas in:
IT
-Games Development
-Forensic IT
BTEC Level 5 HND Diplomas in:
-Computing & Systems Development
-Games Development
Creative Studies
BTEC L3 Extended Diplomas in:
-Art & Design
-Graphic Design
-Fashion
-Perfroming Arts
-Production Arts
-Dance
-Creative Media Production
-Music Production
-Music Technology
Early Years, Health &
Social Care
BTEC L3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care English
Language Teaching
English and Essential Skills (various levels)
Engineering
BTEC L3 Extended Diplomas in:
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
-Mechnical Engineering
BTEC Level 5 HND Diplomas in:
-Electrical & Electronic Engineering
-Mechanical Engineering
Sport, Travel & Public
Services
BTEC L3 Extended Diplomas in:
-Sport
-Travel & Tourism
BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management
The Academy
A-Levels
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Forensic Science
Accommodation
It is essential that students have arranged
accommodation in the UK before starting
their course at the College. Uxbridge
College does not provide accommodation
to its students, and we cannot recommend
a “best” place to stay; however, we can
provide information on local letting
agencies. This information can also be
found in the International Student
Handbook that is provided to students via
the website.
Alternatively, if the student and his/her
parents would prefer that the student did
not live on their own – this is especially
common with younger students – we
would invite the student to contact
Britannia Student Services. Britannia is a
leading accommodation agency in
London, and can help students find a
suitable host family. This can also benefit
the student in terms of learning more
about the British culture and practicing
English language skills in a safe family
environment.
Airport Pick-Up
Uxbridge College offers a free “Meet and
Greet” service for new international
students arriving in London. Students can
be picked up from any London airport and
taken to where they will be staying within
Greater London and the surrounding
area.
In order to book this service, the student
or the agency will need to e-mail the
International Office at
provide the following information:
First Name
Family Name
E-mail Address
Flight Number
Arrival time in the UK and terminal
number
Address of where the student will
be staying in the UK
Progression
As one of the top college’s in London,
Uxbridge College provides its international
students with the opportunity to go onto
great things; be that studying on one of
the Pathway to Degree programmes at
university, studying at a university, or
going into the world of work.
In the 2012/2013 academic session, 93%
of our international students progressed
on to an undergraduate degree
programme at a prestigious UK university.
The universities that our students gained
admission to include: University of
Southampton, University of Manchester,
Bucks New University, the University of
Greenwich, the University of West
London, and the University of Westminster
– the College also has partnerships with a
number of these that will benefit any
international student hoping to gain an
honours degree.
Admissions Process
1 •Student makes an enquiry about studying in the UK
2
•The Agency advises the student of course options, and it is decided that Uxbridge College offers a suitable course for the student, based on interest, motive and qualifications
3 •The Agency sends Uxbridge College International Office a complete application pack
4 •Uxbridge College London assesses the application and responds with a conditional offer letter/request for further information/rejection
5
•Conditional Offer Letter - The Agency gives this to the student along with the Terms and Conditions. The agency should ensure that the student reads the T's&C's and sends e-mail confirmation that the students accepts these.
•Request for further information - the Agency should ensure that any further infomation required is provided , so that a decision can be made on the application
•Rejection - no further action to be taken
6
•If the student wishes to formally accept the offer, the agency must ensure that all conditions are met and that the student has paid the deposit - this can be sent by the Agency to the College, or the student can make a direct bank transfer
7 •The College issue the CAS
8
•The student can then make his/her visa application. The Agency is expected to provide help with the application form, and ensure that the bank statement detailing maintenance is correct and in the correct format. The College provides any additional help required
9
•Visa approved - the Agency should send the College a copy of the visa, and the expected travel date of the student
•Visa refused - the Agency should provide a copy of the visa refusal paperwork to the College
10 •Student arrives in the UK at the College and enrols
The College Application Process – Explained
The Initial Enquiry
For students making an initial enquiry
about studying in the UK, and studying at
Uxbridge College, it would be ideal for
them to have a look at the course
information on our website and in our
prospectus so that they are aware of the
course options.
All course information can be
found at
www.uxbridgecollege.ac.uk
Students who will be applying for
study on a Tier 4 General Student
Visa must choose a course that
fulfils the following criteria:
o The course is from our full-
time prospectus
o The course is at NQF Level
3 (the level is marked
clearly in the guide)
The applicant must be 16 on the
1st September, in the year in which
they enrol as a student
Students under the age of 18 must
be able to provide written consent
from their parent/guardian that
they are allowed to study in the UK
Usually, Uxbridge College will encourage
all initial communications to be between
the applicant and the agency; however, if
the applicant wishes to contact the
College please put them in touch with the
International Office. We also request that
if the agency is uncertain of any of the
College information, that they should
contact the International Office directly for
advice.
Advising a student of course options,
and ensuring they submit a successful
application
Once the applicant has chosen a subject
that interests him/her, he/she will need to
be advised as to the level of study that
would be most appropriate. This will
depend on the following:
Their academic background i.e.
the qualifications they have
already gained from their home
country
The student’s level of English
Language
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Details of the entry requirements for each
individual course can be found on the
College website or in the full-time
prospectus. The International Office can
also provide country-specific guidance for
those areas you represent – this states
clearly which qualifications will be
accepted for each individual course. As
agents of the College, you should also
ensure that the certificates are from
recognised exam boards in your country –
some areas may need official verification
to be sent with the certificates. If the
applicant does not have an adequate level
of qualification for the course they’ve
applied for, they may be offered a lower
level course.
*Please note that any qualifications certificates
submitted will be compared to UK qualifications
using UK NARIC
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Uxbridge College requires all of its
students to have a good level of English
for courses at Level 3 and above. Most of
the applicants for our courses will be
nationals of a country whose first
language is not English, according to the
UKBA, and so will need to show evidence
of their language ability.
If a student does not have the sufficient
level of English for their chosen course,
Uxbridge College is able to provide
English Language programmes at various
levels to ensure that the student can
progress onto a Level 3 course in the
following academic session. These
courses are accredited by the British
Council and range from Entry 1 up to
Level 1. The College is also a recognised
Cambridge test centre, so students can
take this exam while they are with us.
As well as our own requirement for
English Language, the student will also
need to provide evidence of a UKBA
recognised Secure English Language Test
for the purpose of their visa application.
The College preferred test is IELTS;
however, we will also accept PTE
Academic, TOEIC and TOEFL – all of
these test the applicant’s ability in four
modules, these being reading, writing,
speaking and listening.
The Application
Applications from international students
can be submitted via the Uxbridge College
website, or directly to the International
Office. Applicants will then be asked to
submit supporting documents, and the
complete application is then assessed by
the International Office. If the student is
submitting an application through you as
the agency, we request that complete
application packs are sent directly to the
International Office via e-mail or post.
The application packs should include:
-Application Form
-Copies of all qualification certificates and transcripts
Proof of a UKBA Secure English Language Test (IELTS is our preferred test)
CV/Reference
A completed Applicant Intention form
A copy of the passport photograph page
It is essential that the majority of
documents are submitted, as this enables
us to make an offer quickly. This is
especially important if the applicant has
submitted a number of applications to
different institutions, as a quick response
time will help to ensure that the student
comes to us.
The Conditional Offer Once the application pack has been received by the International Office, the qualifications will be assessed and verified, and one of three things may happen: 1) A Conditional Offer letter will be
issued
If the application pack is complete, the offer letter is usually conditional on a Skype interview with the International Officer and a member of the curriculum team to ascertain intent and academic ability
In the event that the student is waiting for results of either an academic examination or a Secure English Language Test then this will be an additional condition; however, the Skype interview can still take place
2) Request for further information If there is more than one document missing then a request for the missing documents will be made before any action
is taken. Also, if there are any discrepancies in the application that need queried with external agencies such as Naric, the application will remain undecided until this has been rectified 3) Rejection
If the student is not appropriate for the chosen course and no alternative can be given then the College reserve the right to reject the application. A rejection may also occur following the mandatory Skype interview. If an offer letter is issued, this will be e-mailed directly to the agent. It is very important that the offer letter, accompanied by the Terms and Conditions for international students, is sent to the student. An e-mail from the student acknowledging that they have read the Terms and Conditions is required by the International Office at the College. The offer letter confirms the course that the student has been made an offer for, the following conditions that the student must fulfil in order to confirm his/her place, the next steps to take to receive the CAS, and also the UKBA requirement for maintenance that must be shown in order to fulfil the UKBA requirement for their visa application.
The CAS The Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) will be issued to the student once they have paid the deposit of fees to the College (details of the fees can be found on the website and in the offer letter). The fees can be paid directly from the student’s own bank account to the College account via bank transfer, in-person y a relative (cash, credit/debit card, or cheque) or you can collect the bank draft on our behalf and courier it to the College. All transfers and bank drafts must have an accompanying reference stating the student’s name – this enables the College to issue the CAS more quickly.
All cheques and bank drafts should be made payable to ‘Uxbridge College’ and please note that the CAS may not be issued until the funds have cleared. Bank transfers should be made in Pounds Sterling using the account details on the Offer letter. Please note that the College is not liable for any bank charges incurred through bank transfer – these will be deducted from the tuition fee deposit.
As a partner agency of the College, you should ensure that the student has made a firm decision to study at the College before the CAS is issued. If the student is holding a CAS for another College as well, he/she will need to decide which institution they want to study at before a CAS is issued from Uxbridge College. The CAS will be sent via e-mail to you, and a copy of this should be sent to the student as well. This can then be used to accompany the visa application.
Pre-Arrival Advice for students Once the student has gained their visa, they may still have some questions about life in the UK. We advise that they consult the International Student Handbook, which is available on the College’s website.
Enrolling at the College If the student’s visa is approved, the College request that you inform them as soon as the student has made plans to travel so that we know to expect them. If the student is not able to travel and complete enrolment for any reason, we need to be kept informed. Once a student has arrived in the UK, they will meet with the International Officer and complete enrolment. Students will need to bring their passport, original qualification certificates and payment for the charges applicable for course materials and exams – this could be anything from £50 - £300.
The Visa Application Process – Explained
Under the PBS immigration rules for Tier 4, students making an application for a Tier 4 General student Visa are required to gain 40 points.
Number of Points Documents required
30 Valid CAS reference number + qualification certificates as detailed on the CAS (Students aged 16 – 18 will also have to show letters of consent from parents/guardians)
10 Proof of maintenance – usually this will be a bank statement dated no more that 31 days before the date of application. As the agent you should ensure that this is from a UKBA recognised bank – details of these can be found on the UKBA website.
The amount of money needed for an initial Tier 4 application can be seen on the offer letter – students will have paid their first year tuition fee to the College, so should just need to show the living costs. As Uxbridge College is an “Outer London” College, the student will need to show £800/month for 9 calendar months = £7200 in total. Please note that the UKBA rules change regularly, so we advise checking with the UKBA and the International Office before submitting any bank statements to the UKBA.
The Visa Once the student has submitted their application, they will receive one of two outcomes:
1) Visa Approved
This will give the student the right to enter the UK and study. Once they have received their visa, it is essential to ensure that all the details on this visa are correct. Depending on where the student has applied from will depend on the conditions of stay detailed on the visa. Most students should be permitted to work for 10 hours a week during term-time and full-time during holiday periods. If the student has a requirement to register with the police written onto their visa, it is essential that the student is alerted to this before they enter the UK as they only have 7 – 10 working days to do this.
2) Visa Refused
The student will receive refusal paperwork detailing the reasons for refusal. It is the Agency’s responsibility to ensure that the College receive a copy of this as soon as the outcome is known. Depending on the reason for refusal, the student may submit a fresh application or submit an application for an administrative review; however, please note that the options given to a student who has received a refusal are at the disgression of the College.
Visa Extensions If the student has gained a Tier 4 General Student Visa for study in the UK, they will be permitted to extend this while in the UK. This can be done by completing the correct application form online via the UKBA website.
Working as an Agent of Uxbridge College London
Uxbridge College requires all of its partner
agents to sign an Agency Agreement.
This agreement is usually issued for six to
twelve months, and clearly states the
Terms and Conditions of working as a
partner agent of Uxbridge College.
If you wish to apply to become an affiliated
agent of the College, it is advisable that
you fill out the Agent Questionnaire and
send it back to
that your application can be considered.
Key Information
The following are some of the Terms and
Conditions that will apply to you once you
sign the Agent Agreement:
Status of the Agency
The Agency shall promptly comply
with all reasonable requests or
directions of Uxbridge College
The College has the right to accept
students referred to us by other
organisations in your country
Information and Publicity
The Agency shall pay utmost regards
to the standing and reputation of
Uxbridge College, and shall not do or
fail to do anything, which may bring
the standing or the reputation of the
College or attract adverse publicity to
Uxbridge College
The Agency will comply with the Brand
Guidelines issued by Uxbridge College
The Agency will not use, copy or
reproduce in any way the
branding/logo belonging to Uxbridge
College without prior written consent
Payment
The Agency will forward all payments
with regards to studying at Uxbridge
College as soon as possible, upon
receipt from the prospective student
Withholding payments will result in
immediate termination of the contract
Fraud
The parties shall use all reasonable
endeavours to safeguard the services
against fraud generally, especially
making applications for student visas
or payment of fees through fraudulent
means.
The Agency shall co-operate with
relevant authorities such as the UK
Border Agency or the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office in identification
of clients who may be unlawfully trying
or assisting others to obtain visas to
enter the UK.
Expectations of the College
Full expectations of the services provided
by partner agents of Uxbridge College are
listed in the Agency Agreement; however,
some of the key services we expect to be
provided are for agencies to:
Actively promote and market
Uxbridge College to potential
students and other interested
parties, and to provide advice on a
range of college courses
Assist potential students with their
application to the College
Recruit students according to the
criteria set out by the College and the
UKBA: the Agency will specifically
make all reasonable endeavours to
ensure students ability to fund the
course, have the required level of
English, and meet the academic entry
requirements as set by the College
Collect application forms and other
supporting documents from the
applicants and forward them to
Uxbridge College International Office,
ensuring authenticity of all documents.
Treat all clients with due care and
diligence
Commission
In order to claim commission payments,
the Agency should forward an invoice
directly to the International Office at
Uxbridge College, which contains the
following:
Name and address of the Agency
Contact number of the Agency
Names of the students
Commission claimed for each
student
Account details that the
commission should be paid to
The International Officer will then verify
that all students named have enrolled at
the College, and this will be forwarded to
the Finance Team
Please note that commission will only be
paid to the agency once the student has
paid the full tuition fee, enrolled and
completed at least four weeks of the
course.
Unless specified otherwise, the College
will aim to pay the Agency the commission
due in pounds sterling, within 30 days of
receipt of an acceptable invoice, once the
students have completed the above.
Any queries, please contact the
International Office at Uxbridge College
London.
Contact Details
Address:
International Office Uxbridge College Park Road Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 1NQ UK T: +44(0)1895 853469 E:[email protected]