FAQs for UK-Based International Students looking to change school
4th July 23
Are you an international student who is already studying at a school in the UK? Maybe you are looking to change schools between academic programmes? or perhaps you didn’t get the grades you wanted to progress to your first-choice university and want to retake your course at another school?
Every year, the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges welcomes a large number of international students who transfer to study with us from other UK schools. Below we’ve summarised some of the most common questions we receive from UK-based international student applicants each year.
Q: What are the options if I failed my A Levels or did not get an offer from a university?
A: If you hold a non-British passport and are within the 2-year CAP, you can apply to a one-year International Foundation Programme to continue your study and apply to UCAS in the following year in all three of our colleges as follows:
If you hold a British passport, you can apply for A Level retakes at Abbey College Manchester.
Q: What is an International Foundation Programme?
A: International Foundation Programmes (IFP) are one-year intensive courses, designed as an alternative to A Levels, which prepare international students for undergraduate study. All of our International Foundation Programmes include subject modules specific to the pathway course, and they also include core skills modules which aim to equip students with the necessary skills and competencies required for undergraduate study and overall university readiness.
Q: What Pathways can I study on International Foundation Programme?
A: Students have a choice of various pathways, each of which comprises a range of Core Skills and Pathway Specific Modules. All pathways are designed to give students a thorough grounding in the key concepts and theories they will meet during their undergraduate studies,
The pathways available are:
- Business (all three colleges)
- Creative Arts or Art & Design (Abbey College Manchester & DLD College London)
- Engineering (all three colleges)
- Environmental Science (Abbey College Manchester)
- Humanities or Social Sciences (Abbey College Manchester & DLD College London)
- Medicine (Abbey College Cambridge & Abbey College Manchester)
- Science (Abbey College Cambridge & Abbey College Manchester)
- Sport (Abbey College Manchester)
- Computer Science and Mathematics (DLD College London)
- Fashion Management (DLD College London)
- Biomedical Science (DLD College London)
Q: What are the entry requirements for the International Foundation Programme?
A: Requirements for international students for our International Foundation Programme are:
- Normally be aged 17 or over before the 1st of September in the year of registration
- Have passed GCSE English or have an overall UKVI IELTS* score of 5.0 (with a minimum of 4.0 in all components)
*IELTS requirements may vary for specific subject strands.
Q: Can I repeat my foundation course with you?
A: We will assess your application case by case. This will depend on your previous Foundation result and future ambitions as well as your 2-year CAP limit.
Q: What are the fees for an International Foundation Programme?
A: Fees vary across the three of our colleges and are based on your passport-issuing country and immigration status. Please visit the web pages below for more details:
DLD College London:
https://www.dldcollege.co.uk/admissions/fees/
Abbey College Cambridge:
https://www.dldcollege.co.uk/admissions/fees/
Abbey College Manchester:
https://www.abbeymanchester.co.uk/admissions/international-admissions/international-fees/
Q. Who will help me to apply for university after I complete my International Foundation Programme and what are the application channels?
A: In our colleges each foundation student will have a dedicated UCAS tutor to assist them during the application stage. Most students will apply via UCAS before the deadline in January each year. Students can also apply directly (outside of the UCAS system) to some universities, Abbey DLD students will also receive support from our UCAS tutors when making direct applications.
Q: What is the difference between an Abbey DLD International Foundation Programme and other foundation providers?
A: Abbey DLD’s foundation courses are widely accepted by most UK universities, and so it is an open foundation course. For previous progression destinations, please visit this webpage:
https://www.abbeycolleges.co.uk/results-and-destinations/
Our class sizes are small at between 8 to 12 students per class, with personal tutors and UCAS advisors to support you.
Q: What are the options if I fail my GCSEs?
A: If you fail your GCSEs, you can apply to a one-year GCSE course, or Year 11 course in all three of our colleges. We can offer six GCSE subjects for you to complete in one year.
For Non-British passport holders/International students, you may be able to apply to a one-year foundation course if you are over 17 years old by the 1st of September and depending on your choice of pathway plus your GCSE results.
Q: What are the options if I don’t meet the English requirement to progress onto A Levels or an International Foundation Programme?
A: We offer an Academic Preparation Course at DLD College London and Pre-Sessional Programme at Abbey College Cambridge to help students to improve their English before the next academic course. Normally students will study for one year or 6 months in order to achieve the correct level of English to progress onto a full academic programme.
Q: How do I apply to your colleges?
A: We will first collect your application documents, which will include a completed application form, passport copy, visa or BRP card copies (both sides) or immigration codes, your last two years of school reports as well as a valid UKVI IELTS report (if you are over 18 or applying to an International Foundation Programme). You may submit them via our online portal or contact our admissions team or your local Sales representatives.
Please read this webpage for more details:
https://www.abbeycolleges.co.uk/admissions/application-process/
Apply now via our online application portal
Q: Do I have enough time to apply for my visa for the September 2023 start?
A: Please submit your college application immediately to allow more time for the admission process and your future visa application. We will set up a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) deadline after September to make sure you will not miss too many classes.
Please note that you will need to apply for your new Tier 4 Visa outside the UK if there is no progression on your course level.
Q: Do you have extra-curricular activities?
A: Yes, our colleges offer a wider range of extra-curricular activities after school and at weekends. These include sports, fitness and active activities, creative activities (such as music, dance, drama and photography) and academic-focused clubs such as science and mathematics masterclasses and humanities and business-focused societies. You can choose to take part in as many extra-curricular activities as your study timetable allows.
Q: Do I need to move out of my boarding house during Half Term and the Easter Holiday?
A: No, our college boarding houses will be open during Half Terms and Easter holidays. The only time you will need to move out is for the winter holiday and summer holiday. You will be asked to remove your belongings before you leave school for the summer holiday – our colleges should be able to arrange storage of your belongings in the UK during the summer holidays.
Please visit this webpage about our boarding houses:
https://www.abbeycolleges.co.uk/our-colleges/boarding/
Q: Can I visit the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges for a tour?
A: Yes, we are happy to arrange a tour for you to any of our colleges Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. You will be able to visit us during term time and during half terms, and during the summer holidays. Our colleges are closed to visitors at weekends and during UK Public Holidays Please contact our admissions team or your local Sales representatives for a tour form and to check availability.
Get in touch today
Want to learn more about studying at the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges? Simply complete the form below and one of our admissions advisors will be in touch with you shortly.
