Main Office2nd floor, Fry Building, Avery Hill Campus

Student /Staff Drop In OfficeRoom QM061, Greenwich Campus

Our Locations

Maxine Davis HeadKen Holtom International Regional DirectorJoanne Wall International Regional DirectorMark Blakemore International Regional DirectorSue Edwards International Recruitment ManagerNicola McCarthy International Officer (Part Time)Joanna Dyal (Cawley) International Officer (Part Time)Natasha Abreo International OfficerHelen McCormack International OfficerMoeed Raja International OfficerYvette Fofah International AdministratorAndrew Dickson International AdministratorShan Shan Zhang International Administrator

International Office - Staff

Over 4,900 International students from 140 countries

Number 1 Mauritius (145)

Number 2 Bangladesh (295), Sri Lanka (230), Thailand (215), Vietnam (165)

Number 4 India (840), Nigeria (545)

Number 5 Ghana (55), Nepal (75)

University of Greenwich

What we do…• Enquiry Management – email (min of 150 emails a day), phone (call centre),

face to face

• Assessment of International (including EU) Applications – Quick turnaround, greater conversion

• Specialist in-country knowledge of qualifications and education systems

• Tier 4 Visa advice to applicants including CAS and ATAS

• Working with Schools and Departments

• Marketing of university to International Students.

What we do...• Management of Agent Network – 62% registered students via Agents

(2011-2012 cohort)

• Email offer letters

• Bespoke communications (targeted applicants)

• In country pre departure meetings

• Airport Meet & Greet

• Receptive to International links

Overseas Activity

• Exhibitions

• On the Spot Admissions

• Agent Visits

• Institution Visits

• Alumni Events

• Other Promotional/ Networking Events

A day in the life...

Monday April 16th

0645 Collection from Hotel via BC arranged taxi

0700 Arrive International Indian Public School

0945 Arrive Multinational School

1145 Asrary Ambassador Schools

1300 Leave for Hotel

 

1500 Arrive at venue/dress stand

 

1700 Educon Student Interviews and Counselling

2030 Return to Hotel

2100 Emails and follow up

In Reality ……

What we don’t do....

Countries visited 2011/2012

Mauritius

USA

Sri Lanka

Vietnam

Russia

Turkey, KSA, UAE

Bangladesh

NigeriaKenya + Uganda

Ghana

Thailand

Kazakhstan

Greece

India

Nepal China

Decisions, decisions....

• International Office utilises range of data and intelligence to inform overall strategy and markets of interest

– HESA statistics, British Council intelligence and contacts, UCAS, NARIC, internal data on applications, acceptances and conversions

– review sector wide trends, competitor analysis

• We have historically been ahead of our competitors in identifying emerging markets

• Patience required to assess and analyse impact in new market (3 years)

• Mature, declining and emerging markets

Europe (EU)

• Except for Greece & Cyprus - EU recruitment was not currently in our budget. Since Feb 2012 we have been allocated a budget for this.

• Currently 52nd in UK for EU numbers

• Competitors such as UEL, London Met and Coventry have long been active in the market and are reaping the benefit

Attractions

• Fee increases now similar to International fees

• EU students have no working restrictions upon graduation and no requirements for visas to study

• Large markets across continent offering stable growth

• Eastern Europe in particular offers strong potential; strong UG focus

• Continue to be interested in UK; very London focused

UK International

• Hugely important but overlooked by most HEI’s until recently• Account for up to 50% of international students that go to UK HEI’s• Low cost market to recruit from• UK based agents allow for greater engagement with market

• University of Greenwich is active in establishing close links with selected foundation providers/colleges across England

Concerns

- Need to take into consideration regarding students academic progression and 3 & 5 year rule.

Agents – who are they?Important recruitment tool that has come to prominence over past 15 years

Utilised by most UK HEI’s including majority of the Russell Group Exceptions – Oxbridge, Kings, Imperial, LSE

What do they do?

- advise on overseas study options

- help with application, accommodation and fee payment process

- advise and assist with Visa process

- provide continued pastoral support i.e. mentoring from current students at institution

Attraction for students? - all of the above

- direct line to the International Office, clear and prompt information

Agents – why do we use them?• Excellent support mechanism for supplementary in-country activity in countries where

we are active – profile raising, local advertising, arrange counselling sessions, school visits among other things

• Low cost point of entry to markets where we have no established presence

- market discovery, brand establishment, profile raising

• Trained by International Office staff to:– counsel students about the university, programmes, location to ensure fully informed

– screen applicants to reduce applications from unqualified students, increase quality applications

– be fully aware of University of Greenwich processes

• Students go to them, therefore we must go with the market trends

Agents – in statistics

Registered students for the 2011/12 intake via Agents

China 93%

India 87%

Sri Lanka 58%

Thailand 77%

Bangladesh 56%

Nigeria 46%

Vietnam 81%

Agents

Agent use an electronic application system called - MARS

• Agent loads application onto the system

• Application assessed from anywhere in the world

• Offer Letter available immediately on assessment

• Use to communicate

• Reports- specific for courses, country, agents, finance etc.

As yet not integrated with Banner- currently downloading reports and sending excel spread sheet to Admissions to input into Banner.

Catering for International Students

Two intakes

• September and January (IFP ,some PG programmes and a few UG Business programmes)

• Increasing demand for several intakes being met by competitors– A case for more intakes in other areas due to differing international academic calendars?

Foundation and Pre-sessional English

• Continues to be provided direct by University of Greenwich

• Institutions becoming more reliant on private providers

Marketing• International Prospectus –Currently being developed

• International Student Accommodation Guide

• International Tuition Fees Leaflet

• Pre Sessional English Leaflet

• Banners for exhibitions

• Magazine, newspaper, online advertising and social media

Bangladesh India Nepal Thailand

Brazil Iran Nigeria Turkey

Cambodia Iraq Pakistan Turkic States

Cameroon Jamaica Russian Federation Uganda

Colombia Kenya Sri Lanka Vietnam

Ghana Mauritius Tanzania Zimbabwe

Nationality Scholarships• Worth £1,000 to students from certain countries; deducted from tuition fee with

exceptions

• Excellent marketing tool and influential in student decision making

• Other institutions now offer similar scholarships AND Merit based scholarships

Tier 4 Student Visa/ Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)

Requirements for CAS:

• Level of Qualification used for Assessment, i.e. Bachelor of Science

• Awarding Body of the Qualification, i.e. University of Greenwich

• English Language Qualification i.e. IELTS 6.0 achieved (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component)

• Progression Details

Tier 4 Student Visa/ Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)

Once an international student fulfills all academic conditions and the pre registration deposit has been paid the university will arrange with the Home Office for a CAS Number.

This is an electronic reference number which international students require for their student visa.

Tier 4 Student Visa/ Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)

• The International Office issues CAS for new students

• Student Centre issues CAS for continuing Student

• Partner Colleges issue CAS for students studying at the Partner Colleges

Changes to Tier 4 student visasContinuous changes by government since introduction of the Points Based

System in 2009

• English Language requirements tightened for programmes below degree level

• Closure of Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa (from April 2012)

• Only students studying postgraduate programmes or sponsored by their Government can bring their families with them to the UK

• 3 & 5 year rule applies to students that have studied in the UK

• “Academic progression” also needs to be checked and confirmed for students that have studied in the UK.

Challenges?

• Golden era for UK HEI international recruitment arguably over– ending of Prime Minister’s Initiative (PMI) in 2011, no new model from government

– Immigration policy having significant impact on sector, ending of PSW, lack of clarity from UK government and projection to rest of the world that the UK is no longer open to international students

– Brand UK significantly damaged due to significant government negativity associated with students being included as immigrants

• Globalised markets = increased competition from other countries– USA most popular destination but Canada is becoming increasingly attractive

– Canada and Australia offer attractive visa systems to international students with residency a possible in the former after five years

– New players – China 3rd biggest recruiter for international students. EU competitors.

Did you know?

• 1/3 students in UK come through referrals (A student would recommend the place that they have studied based on their own experiences of their University life)

• Every lost enquiry is a potential loss of approximately £10,000 in tuition fee income.