What you need to know about studying in the UK

If your aim is to study in the UK in 2022 or you are currently a registered international student, it is essential that you are up to date with the latest information that could impact your studies. This way you can plan effectively. Most importantly, familiarize yourself with the latest coronavirus guidance from the UK government and what this could mean for you. We’ve got you covered on all fronts, including where to get the latest information. Let’s start with current travel tips for international students.

What is the current advice on international student travel to the UK?

While the UK government and universities remain committed to resuming safe face-to-face teaching and learning as part of a blended model, due to the current nationwide lockdown in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, international students are being warned not to travel and to delay their trip to the UK.

The main reason for the decision is to reduce the transmission of the virus and prevent the spread of new variants. Reducing the number of students on campus and access to university facilities is intended to ensure the safety of students and staff. Border restrictions also exist as a measure to protect health and well-being.

What travel restrictions currently exist in the UK?

In the event that you are traveling to the UK and cannot delay your trip, it is important to be aware of the restrictions in place. The UK has established robust and strict procedures for international arrivals in accordance with the latest scientific advice. Currently all UK travel brokers are suspended and no person from any country is exempt from the following requirements:

• If you are traveling to the UK, you will need to take a Covid-19 PCR test three days before travel and provide evidence of the result.
• On arrival in the UK, you will need to self-isolate and quarantine for ten days at your own expense.
• You will need to take two additional coronavirus tests on the second and eighth days of your quarantine. You must book and pay for this package before arrival, which will cost you GBP 210. Reservation and payment can be made online.
• You will need to complete a passenger locator form that includes your trial package booking reference.
• You can only leave your accommodation for very specific reasons when you are self-isolating, such as to receive medical care or in case of an emergency.
• It is possible to be released early from quarantine by booking a private Covid-19 test for five days in self-isolation under the “Test to Release” scheme.
• It is essential to note that the UK government has introduced legislation that will penalize you if you provide inaccurate or misleading information or breach the terms of the quarantine.

What about travel from countries identified as high risk?

The UK government has also identified high-risk countries for which additional travel restrictions and measures apply. If a country has been placed on the “red list”, then travel from that country is prohibited, except for citizens of the UK and Ireland or those with UK abode rights. If you have traveled from or passed through a ‘red list’ country ten days before arriving in the UK, then:

• You must take a coronavirus PCR test three days before travel and show proof of the result
• You will need to quarantine for ten days in a government-approved and managed hotel, at your own expense, at an estimated cost of £1,800.
• You will need to take two coronavirus tests, on day two and day eight of your quarantine.
• The “test to release” scheme does not apply to anyone who has traveled from a high-risk country.
• You will also need to comply with all national blocking rules.

The countries that have been included in the “red list” are:

Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guiana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
How do UK universities and government support students?

The number one priority for both the UK government and universities is the health and well-being of students and university communities. Providing the necessary guidance, resources, information and support has been placed front and center. This includes the provision of high-quality online teaching, where in-person learning is not possible, and the establishment of a £50m student relief fund to help students most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. . Access to medical and health services has also been prioritized.

Universities have been developing new protocols, security measures, and policies to design safe and secure campuses. All of this has been done in accordance with the latest scientific and public health advice. Institutions have continued to support students’ academic ambitions to undertake undergraduate study or complete qualifications during the pandemic, with the provision of different learning delivery modes and flexible models. There’s a reason the UK has 18 institutions in the top 100 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2022).

While the UK has implemented strict travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, it has shown flexibility regarding immigration policies and student-related rules during the course of the pandemic. Some examples include:

• Visa extensions and a new visa qualification system.
• Grant permission for international students to continue studying through the provision of online and blended learning models.
• Grants to students at the time of leaving the UK with the grant of additional time (exceptional guarantee) in the event that students are unable to travel.
• In “exceptional guarantee” cases, students can also apply for a license to stay within the UK.
• The introduction of a new postgraduate route allowing two years of UK work experience on completion of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
• Allow students to apply for the postgraduate route even where they have studied through distance learning or blended learning models outside of the UK.
• Applications for the Student Postgraduate Pathway and for the 2022/23 academic year are currently open.

By understanding the rules and policies in place for students in the UK, you will be ideally equipped to organize your studies and make plans. You can start by searching for your perfect scholarship and student grant using our scholarship database tool.

Bournemouth University is offering four media scholarships to international students for the 2022/2033 academic year. The Executive Dean’s Scholarship for the Faculty of Media and Communication (International) is available to any international postgraduate applicant for a full-time taught Master of Media degree, excluding Postgraduate Diplomas.

Bournemouth University is a public university in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, with its main campus located in neighboring Poole. The university was founded in 1992 as one of the new universities, however the origins of its predecessor date back to the early 1900s.

If English is not the student’s first language, they will need to provide evidence that they can read, write, listen, and speak English to the standard required for their degree course.

Course Level: Scholarships are available to pursue full-time media master’s studies, excluding postgraduate diplomas.

The subject of study: The scholarships are awarded to the Faculty of Media and Communication.

Scholarship Award: All awards are made in the form of a reduction of the tuition fee, to the value of 50%.

The number of scholarships: There are four scholarships available.

Scholarships can be taken in the UK

Eligibility:

• Any international applicant for a full-time taught postgraduate media course with the Faculty of Media and Communication
• Graduate diploma applicants are not eligible for this award
• You cannot receive this scholarship if you have been awarded another BU scholarship.

Nationality: International students are eligible to apply.

University Admission Requirement

Entry Requirement: Applicants will need to have a minimum of an Upper Second Class Honors Degree (2i) and must complete an application highlighting their academic achievements and explaining why they should be considered for this scholarship.

English Language Requirement: If English is not the first language, applicants will need to provide evidence that they have been assessed in all four components of English (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) against the standard required for a degree course. As a general rule, to be accepted to any Bachelor’s or Master’s program, the student must have achieved a minimum of IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each component.

How to Apply: Applicants must complete an application highlighting their academic achievements and explaining why they should be considered for this scholarship.

Application Deadline: The application deadline is May 31, 2022.