In response to the global increase in restrictive immigration policies, coinciding with trends that show students are less inclined to relocate overseas for long periods of time, London School of Marketing is reaching out to inform international students of their options in attaining highly sought after UK accredited qualifications.
Operating from their Central London location, London School of Marketing has built up an international reputation as a leading provider of both professional and academic qualifications. Authorised by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) as a Listed Body, they enjoy a long list of accreditations and recognitions. Through their closely managed network of Local Access Points (LAPs), international students can study for accredited UK qualifications through a combination of onsite and online learning, without having to travel to the UK or apply to the increasingly restrictive UK Border Agency (UKBA). This innovative, flexible approach to delivering programmes is effectively “removing the boundaries to education.”
Issues such as rising tuition fees, restrictions on student visas and the increasingly busy lifestyles of students have made the dream of securing a UK professional or academic qualification extremely challenging. International students in particular are being greatly affected by these changes, as they already face many more financial and bureaucratic barriers than local candidates. This challenge is only poised to get worse. With the UK boasting some of the world’s best educational institutions and programmes, it sits as one of the world’s most popular education destinations. However, in light of the current political policies, it is increasingly difficult for international students to obtain visas, either off their own back or through accredited institutions; let alone find employment on completion of their degrees.
Last year UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) further tightened its rules, for example, introducing a new credibility test that is now required before a UK visa can be approved. Actions such as these are being enacted around the world, including in countries such as Canada, the US and Australia. Foreign students do not only face very restrictive immigration policies but also a system that consistently changes and cannot be relied upon or planned for in advance. With international students being forced to seek alternatives, observers are now starting to ask what the lasting effect will be. A recent study by the National Union of Students (NUS) found “the majority of international students studying across the UK feel unwelcome and a significant amount would not recommend the UK as a place to study.”
“As an education provider, we find it difficult that so many international students feel they are unable to study at a British institution,” said Anton Dominique, CFO/COO at London School of Marketing. “For some time, we’ve been analysing the situation and predicted that changes such as these would be introduced. While international students requiring a visa (Tier 4 – General) to study in the UK make up less than 8% of our student base, we wanted to ensure that we were able to provide those students with the highest level of support possible. That is why, over the past couple of years, we have been establishing our LAP programme – so that no matter where in the world a student resides, they can still attain the best possible education.”
As there is a huge demand for British qualifications, London School of Marketing continues to make sure that this demand is being met. Therefore, instead of expecting students to come to them, they take world class qualifications to their students.
A current list of London School of Marketing’s Local Access Points, ranging from Colombo to Kathmandu, can be found on their website.
Additional links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fil…
http://www.londonschoolofmarketing.com/how-it-works/professional-accredi…
http://www.londonschoolofmarketing.com/local-access-points
http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/press-releases/international-students-feel…
