There is no deadline for International students. The BUP adviser will help you. However, some courses can become full, so the sooner you complete your application, the better.

The answer is, 'Quite hard". But this is nothing to be afraid of!
Working hard does NOT mean worrying. It means working regularly, and efficiently. The things you learn in Study Skills will help to make the task easier for you.

It is NOT easy to get into a British university, but if your understanding and use of English becomes good enough, and if you show that you are capable of the level and kind of study which will be required, you will be an undergraduate or post-graduate student next autumn.

YES

There will be about one hour of homework nearly every day. This is to make sure that you have understood what you have been taught, and to show the teacher if you have any problems. Essays will gradually get longer and more academic, to train you for the kind of writing you will need to do at university.

Homework is a good way to ‘fix' the knowledge in your mind and to help you learn to be independent. From the very start of the course you will be given IELTS style essays or exercises to do.

We recommend that you spend at least half an hour writing up your notes each night. This will help you to learn and remember. It will also provide you with notes which will be pleasant to refer to and revise from later. We will teach you how to study efficiently and effectively in Study Skills.

Learning Vocabulary

A wide vocabulary will be invaluable both in the IELTS exam and at university. You should use a notebook to keep a record of the vocabulary you want to learn and use. We recommend that you learn five words per night. We will talk about how to do this during study skills.

You should buy a small notebook to use as a HOMEWORK DIARY . There will also be a class homework diary which you will sometimes have responsibility for writing.

You cannot expect to improve your English if you don't do your homework.

Our teachers are all experienced professionals, with a qualification in teaching English. They have been to University in the UK, so they have first-hand experience of how you are going to have to study.

The classes may not be what you are used to.

We use what is called an eclectic and communicative approach. This means that you will be encouraged to discuss what you are learning, whether it is English Grammar, Cultural Studies, or Study Skills.

Sometimes you may role-play - that is, pretend that you are in a particular situation, and practice what you would say. Sometimes you will play games, draw charts, or even go out into the street and ask questions! These activities will be varied but will always be designed to improve your understanding and use of English, both in academic and social situations.

You will also be preparing for the IELTS test. This will happen in every lesson, but there are also specific ‘'blocks'' of time when you will study for the exam intensively and practice the techniques we recommend in order to gain a good score.

In the second semester your learning will involve reading academic style texts on a variety of subjects and listening to appropriate recordings similar to those which are likely to arise in the IELTS test.

It is important that you are able to understand and discuss topics of general interest and concern. This is important, not just for the IELTS exam, but also to prepare you to meet, study with, and become friends with native speakers, or students of other nationalities, when you are at university. There will be lots of writing and exam practice as well as continued stress on your ability to communicate verbally.

You have three weeks' holiday over Christmas in December, although you will have a project to complete. You will also have two Reading Weeks which are designed to give you time to research and write your assignment. There is a lot of work to do – that is why there are no other holidays.

You will fail if:

• You do not attend classes
• You do not do your homework
• You do not listen to advice

These are the ways in which you will be assessed:

• You will take the IELTS examination in February, and at the end of May. You must score 6.0 in this examination in order to gain a GRADE A Pass.
• There are also internal examinations in December, February and May.
• You must attend at least 90% of all classes in order to pass the course.
• You will be given a Project to complete over the Christmas break. For Art students this will be to complete their portfolio. Other students will be You asked to write a 1000 word essay.
• are required to complete and pass a 3000 word assignment in your chosen academic subject.
• You will get help in how to approach and complete this assignment. You will be given a reading list and your assignment task in plenty of time. In the last few weeks before the assignment deadline there will be some class time available for help and support from your teacher. This is practice for the kind of work you will have to do independently when you are at university.
• It is very important that you do not leave it too late to start work on the assignment .
• The Study Skills element of the course will be assessed by completion of a Learner Diary in the first term and by an exam and a Class Presentation in the second semester.
• You will also have examinations on what you have learned in Cultural Studies and General or Business Studies.

Being late is not polite. It is annoying for your classmates and your teacher! It also causes problems because the start of the lesson may be when the teacher is introducing a new grammar point, or a new idea. If you are late you may miss something very important.

We have a rule that if you are more than fifteen minutes late for the first class; you should wait until the first break before entering. This is so that you do not disturb your fellow students. There is no excuse for being late for the second or third class.

The Register: If you miss the first class, the teacher will mark this in the register. Three missed classes equal a missed day! This may affect your attendance percentage!

Everybody has transport problems sometimes - it is part of living in London . Make sure that you have the best travel card for you. We do not recommend that you try to come a long way into school by bus - the underground is far quicker.

It is extremely important to come to all your classes to give yourself a fair chance of passing the course and going to university.

• It is a requirement of your visa that you attend at least 15 hours per week of study.
• If you do not attend classes you are breaking the law.
• If you do not attend classes at a level of at least 90%, you will be warned verbally, then by letter.
• Remember that a copy of this letter will be sent to your parents.
• If you do not attend enough classes YOU WILL FAIL THE COURSE
• If your attendance continues to be unsatisfactory, you will be removed from the course.
• This is called the 'disciplinary procedure'.

If you are sick, you should ring the college as soon as possible, or ask someone to ring for you. Please ring every day while you are sick. We worry about you!

If your illness continues for more than three days, or recurs frequently, you should always see a doctor. We will tell you how to register with a doctor during Orientation week.

Genuine sickness will not affect your attendance percentage, but if you are absent sick for more than ten days per semester, you are unlikely to pass the course. If you have an ongoing health problem, going to university may not be a good idea.

Having a problem is nothing to be ashamed of. Dealing with your problem is part of becoming a responsible adult, and a successful student. If you are homesick, afraid, or worried about your future, we can help you to find a solution and feel better. Please don't disappear, or hide in your room. If there is anything you are unhappy about, please come and talk to someone.

• Talk to your tutor, or one of the other teachers.
• If you need to talk to someone in your own language, this can be arranged.
• We promise to listen to any complaints you have: this is called ‘the grievance procedure.

Your tutor will be one of your teachers, and every three or four weeks you will have a short meeting of about ten minutes, but longer if necessary, to discuss your work, your progress, and any problems you may have. This is your time, so use it well.

This is all part of a process which is designed to enable you to learn to assess your own strengths and weaknesses and be ready for university study.

The Study Centre is always available for you to work quietly, and to use the materials. We will show you round during Orientation Week.

You can borrow reading books, and we strongly advise you to do this. You can use the computers in the Internet Room. Please use the booking system.

• Explore London , and when you know your way around, offer to show new students.
• There's lots to do, and some of it is free!
• Keep an eye on the Social Programme Notice Boards, and use the information available in the Study Centre