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 2008 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 (which will become 18 in 2010) and there is no maximum. We have and students with us in the past year who were in their 60s and 70s. We have a pretty even mix of male and female students.

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.    Work skills (a course including a full time paid work placement)

Students come to UIC from all over the world.  In 2008 our top nationalities were

Brazil            Japan         Switzerland
Bulgaria        Korea         Thailand
Colombia       Mexico       Turkey
Germany      Serbia         Russia
Italy              Spain          Uzbekistan

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 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.

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

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

The school is medium sized – we have around 120 students in the winter (December) and over 300 in the summer (July and August) We also have around 250 teenagers and children studying with us in the summer in our residential centres and over 300 people each week studying our foreign language classes.

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 in their early 20s, so there is always a lively atmosphere and there is always plenty to do outside the classes

Our children’s courses follow the same principles but we are also mindful that we have to prioritise safety for young students in our care, and we provide courses that are not only educational and fun but completely safe.

10 classrooms
Café
Computer room
Wifi
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 2006 and the Children’s courses in 2007. In addition we are members of English UK – our industry professional association.

We are also active members of Work Experience UK (a sub group of English UK specialising in courses providing work experience) and currently our Principal is Chair of the LONDOSA – the London Directors of Studies Association.

In addition we are recognised centres of Edexcel and TOEIC and are able to deliver exams and assessments for courses leading to qualifications from these exam bodies

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 25 lessons a week morning & afternoon
General English 30 lessons a week morning & afternoon
Examination courses (Cambridge / IELTS / TOEIC)
Work Skills (including paid work placement)
Residential Vacation courses for children (max 5 weeks)
Foreign language courses (evenings once a week or intensive)

The school is 5 minutes from Oxford Circus Street tube station, on the Central Line (red) and Bakerloo Line (brown). Take exit 3 from Oxford Circus Station. You have to cross to the opposite 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 50 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 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.

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. This information 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 this 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

UIC is not only accredited by the British Council but is on the list of sponsors from the UK Border Agency (part of the Home Office). Our sponsor Licence Number is: FPVW2PXQ3

This means that if you need a visa to study in the UK we can provide you with the appropriate 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 your agent 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 A2 level (on the CEFR) – roughly equivalent to post Elementary 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 work for up to 20 hours a week
You can work full time if it is part of a course leading to a qualification at level 3 on the NQF (our Workskills course is at this level)
You can apply for an extension to your visa

Student Visitor Visa

For those who want to study for less than 6 months
For those whose English level is below A” – i.e.,. for beginners or low 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 youa re in the UK
You cannot extend your visa in the UK – you have to return home

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.

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) or if you have the right kind of visa (General Student Visa). If you have a General Student Visa you are able to work part time during your course (up to 20 hours a week) or full time if the work is work experience and part of a course leading to a qualification at L3 on the National Qualifications Framework. Any work experience is limited to 50% of the total length of the course. If you are doing work experience as part of a course at UIC we will find you a placement. If you want part time work while you are studying we will suggest the best places for you to look for work but we cannot help in detail.

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.