The question we are most commonly asked is:
Give me 5 reasons why I should study at UIC?

1. Great location
2. Great nationality mix
3. Wide range of flexible study courses
4. Friendly staff always available to help and answer your questions
5. Great range of accommodation options - families, hostels, apartments all year round
There are many many more reasons as well, read on or call or email us if there are other things you want to know.

Students at UIC come from all over the world. In 2011 we were delighted to welcome students from over 50 different countries.

A typical student at UIC is in his or her early 20s – either a graduate or at university. The average age during the year is 23, in summer (July and August) a little lower. Our minimum age is 16 and there is no maximum. We have had students with us in the past year who were in their 60s and 70s. The mix of women to men is around 60:40.

Students study with us for a number of different reasons and also on a number of different courses.

Our most popular courses are:
1.    General English mornings (15 hours a week)
2.    General English + conversation (20 lessons a week)
3.    Communication Station (with our very own Radio Station)

Students come to UIC from all over the world. In 2011 our top nationalities were:

This changes a little from one year to another but the highest nationality in 2010 was 16% and so you can see there is a very good mix of different nationallities

We also have a number of English speakers studying with us – taking classes in modern foreign languages in the evenings. There are between 300 and 400 students each week learning modern foreign languages with UIC. These students are typically working and come to the classes after work, once a week. They have many different reasons for learning with us – sometimes for their work, sometimes for a planned trip – business or a holiday and sometimes just for pleasure – perhaps they had studied at school and want to brush up.

Through our STUDENT COMMUNITY LX (Language Exchange) we offer all of our students the opportunity to organise exchanges – for example English students learning French will be introduced to French students learning English and so on. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people – in the school and in a safe environment. Every new student gets a password at registration.

Currently we teach French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Arabic

UIC (United International College) is a privately owned English Language School situated in the centre of London with English Language courses for adults year round. We also run courses for teenagers and children in the summer, and evening classes in Modern Foreign languages.

The school is medium sized – we have around 150 students in the winter (December) and around 350 in the summer (July and August) studying English with us

We are a professional school – we understand our students are making a big investment to study with us but we are also friendly and want the environment to be relaxed and fun. As well as this being enjoyable we know that students learn better when there is the right balance between a class being serious and relaxed.

Most of our students are between 20 and 25, so there is always a lively atmosphere and there is always plenty to do outside the classes.

12 classrooms (total capacity 120 students at one time) - the maximum class size is 14
E-learning lounge with PCs connected to internet
on line learnign software available to all students during course
Wifi
Student Services Office
Great teachers

UIC is accredited by the British Council for teaching English. In fact we have 2 accreditations, one for the adult courses in London and one for our residential Children’s courses. The adult school was last inspected in 2010 and we have accreditation until 2015. Our Junior vacation courses were last inspected in summer 2007 and will be again in summer 2012. In addition we are members of English UK – our industry professional association. Our Director of Studies is the secretary of LONDOSA – the London Directors of Studies Association

We are a Highly trusted Sponsor of the UKBA and are subject to regular audits and inspections by the UKBA (a part of the Home Office).

We have also won awards - we have been voted the STAR English Language school in Europe 2011 by The Language Travel Magazine. This is voted on by Travel agents around the world so is really about quality of service. In 2011 we also won the ELTon - a British Council award for innovation in teaching - this is a recognition of the emphasis we place on being inventive in the classroom!

 

We offer a wide range of courses, and we offer them for a variety of weeks.

The main courses are:

General English 15 hours a week mornings

General English 15 hours a week afternoons

General English 20 lessons a week mornings

General English 20 lessons a week mornings

General English 30 hours a week morning & afternoon

Examination courses (Cambridge / IELTS / TOEIC)

Communication Station - making radio programmes in English

The school is 5 minutes walk from Oxford Circus Street tube station, on the Central Line (red) Bakerloo Line (brown) and the Victoria (light blue). Take any exit  from Oxford Circus Station. You have to cross to the corner where NIKE TOWN and Topshop are. Walk north along Regent Street with Oxford Circus station behind you, towards a church (All Souls). After about 100 meters you will find Mortimer Street on the right (there is a Lloyds Bank on one corner and a Starbuck’s coffee shop on the other. Turn into Mortimer Street and we are in the first block – above Office Angels.

If you come by bus you should get off as close to Oxford Circus as possible and then walk to Oxford Circus and follow the directions above

We are also close to Great Portland Street station (Circle Lines, Hammersmith & City lines, Metropolitan lines). From here it is a 10 minute walk south (towards Oxford Street) along Great Portland Street and you will find Mortimer Street on your right.

London is one of the busiest, most exciting and most diverse cities in the world. You can find literally anything here and a huge amount of it is free. Why London - We keep this part of our website up to date with all the latest events on in London; many of which are free. The only thing for certain is that you will never be stuck for something to do! London has just been voted the best tourist city in the world by the readers of Trip Advisor (a website for travellers)

London is generally very safe, particularly in the centre and the areas we arrange accommodation in. As in any big city you need to be careful and sensible but there are very few incidents of any importance here and nothing to be worried about.

As well as the variety London has to offer we also have our own social activities, ranging from trips outside London to events with teachers to parties we hold for the students. We have a member of staff - Tara - who organises all our activities, she will accompany you on the weekday activities but not usually on the weekend trips outside London. All the information about the social programme is available in the school and you can also find up to date activities, past events, photos and recommendations in the Student Community section of our website.

You can choose from a wide range of trips such as day trips to Oxford, Cambridge or full weekend visits to exciting European cities like Paris, Amsterdam, and Edinburgh and we have even been to New York!

UIC is accredited by the British Council and is on the list of sponsors from the UK Border Agency (part of the Home Office). Our sponsor Licence Number is: FPVW2PXQ3. We are a HIGHLY TRUSTED sponsor

This means that if you need a visa to study in the UK we can provide you with the documents which you need to apply for a visa.

If you are a national of the EEA / EU you do not need a visa to enter the UK.

There are several types of visas available and it is important you apply for the correct one. This information is only a brief summary - for detailed advice you should contact one of our representatives or someone in the UK authorised to give immigration advice.

General Student Visa
For those who want to study for longer than 6 months
For those at B1 level (on the Council of Europe Framework for Languages - the CEFR) - roughly equivalent to the beginning of Intermediate level and studying for a qualification at B2 level.
For those over 16
You must study for a minimum of 15 hours a week during the day in a class (15 x 60 minute classes)
You can apply for an extension to your visa
You have to have the support of the college and your attendance is very carefully monitored when you are at the school.
You cannot work while you are in the UK

Student Visitor Visa
For those who want to study for less than 6 months
For those whose English level is below B1 - i.e. for Beginners or Elementary students
You must study for a minimum of 15 hours a week during the day in a class (15 x 60 minute classes)
You cannot work while you are in the UK
You cannot extend your visa in the UK - you have to return home
You cannot bring dependents with you to the UK

Extended Student Visitor Visa
with this type of visa you can study as you would on a student visitor visa but you can stay in the UK for up to 11 months. You have the same rights as with a student Visitor Visa, i.e no work, no extension and no dependents.

Visitor Visa
For those who are visitors and tourists
You cannot study if you enter the UK on a Visitor Visa

Child Student Visa
For those under 16
Primarily for those attending independent schools in the UK

Child Visitor Visa
For those under 16 who want to come to the UK for a holiday or a short course.
Applicants must be able to show that a responsible person is travelling with them or arrangements have been made to meet them and that an appropriate organisation in the UK is taking responsibility for them during their stay.

All students must be able to show they have enough money available to pay for their course fee and living costs in the UK without working. Please contact us for more information on this.

You can work but only if you come from a country where you don't need a visa (EU / EEA). If you come from the EU / EEA then you generally have the same rights to work as a UK citizen. There are some different categories of visa but generally as a student at a language school you are not allowed to work. You may be able to work as a part of a course if the work experience is a part of the course but currently we do not offer such courses. If you want part time work while you are studying, and you have the right visas or nationality we will suggest the best places for you to look for work but we cannot help in detail.

UIC has a sponsor licence from the Home Office. We have a responsibility to make sure students attend classes regularly and do not work illegally.

If you are registered for a course at UIC you are expected to attend 100%. If your attendance drops below 90% we will give you an official notice to improve this and if it drops below 85% over the length of a course we will not give you a completion certificate.

If you come from outside the European Union there are some additional rules, we will report you to the UKBA

.... if you do not arrive for a course without informing us
.... if your attendance drops below 90%
.... if we know you are working and you are not allowed to

There is of course another reason for attending regularly - you will learn more!

If you are ill or unable to come to the school then all you have to do is let us know - we know you can be ill or absent for good reasons - you just have to tell us. If you do not then you may find yourself in a difficult situation.

This is a way of comparing languages levels in different European countries. It is included in the UK National Qualifications Framework which is designed to show equivalences between different levels in different subjects. You should bear in mind that fluency in a language might not equate with a traditional qualification but this should give you an idea. Also have a look at this link for more information.

Whilst for most of the year your classes will be in the main school building at 76 Mortimer Street, it is possible (and more possible during the summer) that your classes will be held in other locations near to the school. These locations are all very close to the school (easy walking distance) and are of a very high quality. During 2010 and 2011 UIC has held classes at these premises as well as at our main building in Mortimer Street.

The addresses we use at different times of the year are:

The School for Economic Science

11, Mandeville Place,

London

W1U 3AJ

University of Westminster

115 New Cavendish Street,

London

W1W 6UW

International Students House

229 Great Portland Street
London

W1W 5PN

University of Westminster

32/38 Wells Street

London

W1T 3UW

University of Westminster

4 Little Titchfield Street.

London,

W1W 7UW

We have courses at many different levels but we do not usually have English courses for complete beginners. So, if you are a beginner you must check with us before you book.

Our General English Courses all run from elementary level to Advanced. Elementary is roughly equivalent to levels A1 on the CEFR, ielts 3.0, and Cambridge ESOL courses from up to and beyond CAE. If your level is higher than this or you are a beginner you must check with us before booking.

For our Business English courses we have levels from Intermediate to Advanced. Intermediate is roughly equivalent to PET / ielts 5.0 / CEFR B1. If you book a course and you are not this level we reserve the right to place you in a General English class.

For us Advanced is beyond CEFR C1 / ielts 6.5 or Cambridge ESOL CAE


If you book any course and you are a beginner and we do not have a group class we will offer you 1:1 lessons of the same total value (this will be fewer hours)

If you book any course and you are higher than Advanced as defined above and we do not have a group class we will offer you 1:1 lessons of the same total value (this will be fewer hours)

Students regularly take both Cambridge exams (FCE and CAE) and IELTS.

You can download our exam results for the last 3 years here.