This information is for overseas residents
considering studying at Bedford College. It is not a comprehensive
guide, and it is important that you check your own situation
carefully. A list of useful contacts is given at the end of this
leaflet.
Admission to the UK
Unless you are a national of a European
Economic Area (EEA) country, you must fulfil the following criteria
if you wish to obtain clearance to enter or remain in the UK with
permission to study (student visa):
- You must have been offered a place on a
course at a school, college or university as a full-time student.
This means that you must attend a course that lasts for at least 15
hours per week of organised day-time study. The 15 hours must
consist of a single subject, or subjects that are closely
related.
- You must show that you can meet the costs of
your course and living expenses, and intend to leave the UK at the
end of your course.
- You do not intend to work in the UK (except
part-time work of no more than 10 hours with the permission of the
Department for Education and Employment).
You must pay your course fees in advance in
one single payment.
If you need a visa or entry certificate to
enter the UK, you must apply for a Confirmation of Acceptance of
Studies (CAS) from your Tier 4 sponsor to the British Embassy or
High Commission in your own country.
Please note: If you are on any other type of
visa you may be able to study part-time. Please contact us on (+44)
(0)1234 291000 for more details.
Administration fee
If you wish to apply for a course at Bedford
College you will be required to pay a non-refundable administration
fee on £150. Your application will not be processed without
this.
Tuition fees
If you wish to enrol at Bedford College and
you are classed as an international student, you will be charged an
international student fee. In 2011-2012 the international student
fees are as follows:
|
|
| Level 3 Full-Time courses |
|
£6,720 per year |
| English as a Foreign Language courses |
|
£4,420 per year or £1,500 per term |
| Higher Education courses |
|
£9,120 per year |
You will also have to pay external fees (exam and registration
fees) and a College resource fee of £20.00. These fees must be paid
in full before a Confirmation of Acceptance for
Students (CAS) can be issued – the College cannot accept
payment by instalments.
Accommodation
The College does not have any residential
accommodation and students are normally expected to find their
own.
You may wish to check the property section of
the local newspapers.
Planning your finances
In addition to your tuition fees you will need
to have sufficient funds to meet your living costs throughout the
time when you are studying. This is a requirement for a Tier 4
student visa. You will be required by the UK Border Agency to prove
that you have enough money to maintain yourself, currently this is
£600 per month of your course for a maximum
We suggest that you consider the following
when you are planning your finances:
- Travel to and from the UK, and short stay in
a hotel on arrival
- Accommodation (current rents range from about
£75 per week for a room to £100 per week for full board with a host
family)
- Food, clothing and laundry costs
- Services – gas, water, electricity, telephone
(sometimes these are included in the rent – you will need to check
this!)
- Local taxes (council tax). You may qualify
for an exemption, please enquire at Student Services.
- College related expenses such as daily travel
to and from the College, books, materials and equipment, and
examination/registration fees (see above).
- Entertainment
Useful contacts
British Embassy, High Commission or
British Council
- in your own country
Bedford Race Equality Council
36 Mill Street
Bedford College MK40 3HD
Tel: 01234 350549
www.voluntaryworks.org.uk
UKCISA: The Council for International
Education
9-17 St Albans Place
London
N1 0NX
Tel: 0207 107 9922
www.ukcisa.org.uk
CAB: Citizens Advice
Bureau
7a St Pauls Square
Bedford
MK40 1SQ
Tel: (01234) 354384
www.bedfordcab.org.uk
These notes are intended to be for guidance
only and do not constitute a definitive statement of the
regulations. You should contact the British Embassy, High
Commission or British Council office in your own country for more
detailed information on studying in the UK.
Step by step guide for potential international students
International Students
How to apply
ENQUIRIES: Please contact our Enquiries &
Guidance Department on +44(0)1234 291000 or e-mail us on
info@bedford.ac.uk for further details about any of our
courses.
APPLICATIONS: You will need to complete an
International students’ application form that you can post, fax or
email to Enquiries & Guidance Department. We will also require
copies of examination certificates and a personal statement,
written in your own handwriting, detailing why you
have chosen the particular course, what work/employment experience,
if any, you have relevant to the course you have chosen, and what
you hope to gain from the course. You will be given a student
reference number which should be used in all correspondence.
ADMINISTRATION FEE: A non-refundable
administration fee of £150 should be included with your application
before the processing of your application can begin.
OFFER: Your application will go to the
Department to which you are applying, and upon their decision we
may then be able to offer you a place. We will write to explain any
conditions of the offer. You will need to complete and return the
Notice of Acceptance card and return it to us within two weeks of
receipt. If you require a student visa please let us know. Your
course fees will need to be paid in full before a Confirmation of
Acceptance of Studies (CAS) can be produced.
VISA: If you require Student Visa a
Confirmation of Acceptance for Students (CAS) is
required, this can be requested when full course fees have been
paid and cleared through the College’s account. Please note that it
may take 1 week for the college to complete a Confirmation of
Acceptance for Students (CAS).
Information for potential Overseas
Students
1. Bedford College is a college of Further
Education and not a University, so full degree courses are not
available. However, we do offer a range of Higher National Diploma
courses and Foundation Degrees which may lead on to the final year
of a degree at a local University. Please note these are classed by
the UK Border Agency as below degree level.
2. For further information about Bedford
College courses, please visit the College website
www.bedford.ac.uk. Please note that it is possible to obtain an
international application form by printing it off from the
website.
3. Bedford College is a publicly-funded
institution and does not offer scholarships.
4. For ‘How to Apply’, see the Step by Step
Guide for potential overseas students.
5. Please note: ‘Switching Visas’. If you are
currently in the UK on a visa it may be necessary for you to return
to your country in order to obtain a student visa for your
course.
Since 1 October 2004 individuals have been
unable to remain in the UK whilst ‘switching’ visas (i.e. from
visitor to student) unless they are a non-visa national who entered
the UK prior to 22 July 2004 (who still has valid leave), or a
non-visa national applying for a course which is at degree level or
higher. Please contact Student Services if you are unsure whether
this applies to you. The maximum period of time that a student can
stay in the UK on short courses one after the other, below degree
level, is three years.
Please note that you must inform us if you
fail to attend classes for any reason. Bedford College reserves the
right to notify the UK Border Agency if you stop attending
college without a satisfactory explanation.