University of Kent Opens New College for International Students

University of Kent, a public university in England, opened its international college for international students (UK IC) in the Cornwallis building on the Canterbury campus.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Kent, Karen Cox, said the move is “bold” and expects it to be a new enriching experience for students at Kent, Erudera.com reports.

Cox said she was happy to welcome students from all over the world who have already joined the new college.

“This will be a tremendous opportunity for them and those who follow in their footsteps to experience student life and academic study, with access to world class facilities and teaching staff,” she told BBC.

According to the newspaper, the new college, which was officially launched on April 19, aims to help international students with their education at Kent University and support the university’s global engagement strategy.

The international college will operate in collaboration with the Oxford International Education Group (OIEG). Students enrolled at this college will be able to pursue the following:

• Two undergraduate pathways - International Foundation Programme or International Year Zero
• One postgraduate pathway - International Incorporated Master’s

OIEG’s CEO, Lil Bremermann-Richard, stressed the first group of international students enrolled in January and expressed confidence that this partnership will unlock many good opportunities for them.

“We’re excited to see our students learn, grow and flourish and hope that our programmes will provide a transformative and rewarding experience for them, as they’ve done for thousands of students before them,” Bremermann-Richard said.

The new college follows the university’s announcement of discontinuing six courses and proposing 58 job cuts due to financial difficulties.

Last month, the university cut several courses, including music, art history, anthropology, philosophy, and journalism. The university said it would stop enrolling new students in these courses, however it would continue to support current students to complete degrees.

The reason behind the decision is the financial challenge the University of Kent has been facing. Reports showed that the institution dropped 26 places in the Complete University Guide over the past eight years.

The school noted it will work with the affected staff to discuss their options due to these developments. Enrollment will continue in courses such as modern language, forensic osteology, and English language courses.

The University of Kent was founded in 1965. At first, it enrolled 500 students and hired 150 staff. Today, the institution has more than 19,000 students and over 3,000 staff. According to UCAS, international students account for 12 percent of students.

Image source: Twitter account of University of Kent