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 knowThe 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

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Students come to UIC from all over the world. So far in 2010 our top nationalities are:

Brazil

Colombia

Germany

Italy

Japan

Korea

Spain

Switzerland

Thailand

Turkey

This changes a little from one year to another but the highest nationality is 14% (April 2010) and so you can see there is a very good spread 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 students gets a password at registration.

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 150 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.

12 classrooms (total capacity 140 students)

E-learning lounge (14 PCs connected to internet)

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 accreidtation 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. The next Brisith Council inspection is in June 2010.

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, our Principal is the chair of LONDOSA – the London Directors of Studies Association

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

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 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 on Saturdays)

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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 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 B1 level (on the CEFR) – roughly equivalent to the beginning of Intermediate 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

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 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 teh UK for 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.

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.

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UIC has a sponsor licence from the Home Office. Part of our responsibilities are 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 Home Office

.... If you do not arrive for a course without informing us
.... If your attendance drops below 90%
.... If we know you are working more hours than you are 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 ina  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.

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 very near to the school. These locations are all very close to the school and are of a very high quality. During 2009 and 2010 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 courses for complete beginners. So, if you are a beginner you must check with us before you book.

Our General Enlgish 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 Intermeduate 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 C2 / ielts 6.5 or Cambridge ESOL CAE

If you are a beginner or Advanced please check with us before booking,

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.