UK Universities face tough decisions when setting English language standards for overseas students and must strike a difficult balance, says an expert from a department of Cambridge University. Speaking in the run up to a seminar in London on international student admissions, Pamela Baxter from Cambridge English, commented:
‘Universities need to set high standards when it comes to English language requirements for overseas students, but this comes with lots of challenges. They risk either losing revenue as promising students go elsewhere if standards are too high, or if standards are too low, recruiting students without the communications skills they need to cope with their courses. It’s a difficult balance to strike but there are lots of encouraging initiatives out there which are helping the UK’s thriving international student population.’
International Admissions – an Evolving Landscape will include speakers from the Home Office, UCAS, UK NARIC and other experts in international admissions. Presentations will cover recent changes to requirements from the Home Office, the results of the UCAS 2014 International Admissions Review and best practice when selecting students with the potential to succeed.
‘There are no easy answers to this issue but there are ways of improving the situation and we’re seeing some really encouraging initiatives from universities in the UK,’ commented Pamela Baxter. ‘Many are offering extra support through both pre-sessional and in-sessional courses which are playing a huge role in helping students to improve the level of their English. It’s also really good to see universities recognising that students need more than academic English to survive. They need to be able to socialise in English if they’re going to get the most out of their UK study experience.’
The programme includes an update from the Home Office on trends, risks and good practice from Derek Knight of UKVI and a look at the results from the 2014 UCAS international admissions review from UCAS. There will also be updates from Cambridge English and a look at using admission tests for international student recruitment from Yvette Summers of the Admissions Testing Service International Admissions. Find out more on the International Admissions – an Evolving Landscape event page.