Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Aug / Sept 2017: The Kids & Family Issue | Page 18

Kids & Education
The University of Nottingham
Higher Education at
HOME OR IN THE U.K.?
Choosing the right university is a challenge. There’s a great range of
respectable choices in Thailand, and shopping for schools abroad can
be even more overwhelming. But with the help of overseas university
representatives like Consortium UK, the process becomes much
simpler. In this article, we shine a spotlight on the United Kingdom
system and how you can narrow down the seemingly endless options.
By ANNALIESE WATKINS
F
or many high schoolers, opt-
ing to continue their educa-
tion here in Thailand is an easy
choice. Thailand is home to global-
ly-recognized universities, and stay-
ing local means remaining close to
family and friends. Plus, the cost of
a Thai degree pales in comparison
to the university fees in many oth-
er countries. With affordable, qual-
ity higher-education right here in
the Land of Smiles, why go overseas
to study?
There are a number of good rea-
sons to consider it.
Those who study abroad have
the opportunity to hone language
skills, develop their independence,
interact with people from oth-
er cultures and widen their world
views. That’s a strong case indicat-
ing international students see more
benefits than their stay-at-home
peers. In fact, a large-scale survey
by the Institute for the International
Education of Students found that
studying abroad unequivocal-
ly influenced the career paths and
self-confidence of students in a pos-
itive way.
18 WANDERLUST
CHOOSING WHERE
TO STUDY
If you and your child are sold on the
idea of an education abroad — and
it is a decision you should make to-
gether — the next step is deciding
where. Most Asian students seeking
a Western education will look at the
United Kingdom, the United States
and Australia as top contenders.
But the question remains:
Where to?
Justin Moseley, Managing Director
of Consortium UK, thinks the United
Kingdom is certainly worth consid-
ering: “Historically, the UK has one
of the best education systems in the
world. From Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws
of Motions to William Shakespeare’s
English, the UK established its reputa-
tion for excellence in the fields of sci-
ence and arts a very long time ago.”
Consortium UK offers free help to
students in Thailand looking to study
abroad. Their no-fee service includes
advice on choosing the most suit-
able course, including assistance with
UCAS applications and personal state-
ments. The company can also advise
on Foundation Year programs, which
are designed to prepare internation-
al students for degree studies when
more academic achievement and
English language skills are required.
Consortium staff even help negoti-
ate with universities in the event that
a student has not met the conditions
of a university’s offer. The same ser-
vices are available for students wheth-
er they’re seeking bachelor’s degrees,
master’s degrees or PhDs.
Consortium UK official represents
four of Britain’s top universities: the
University of Bath, the University of
Exeter, the University of Nottingham
and the University of Warwick. All
are leading institutes within the UK.
Warwick, in particular, is highly re-
garded, boasting a top-ten spot in
the national university rankings and
viewed as a solid alternative to the
likes of Oxford and Cambridge.
Each school offers areas of special-
ism. Exeter is well-known for its busi-
ness and medical schools; Bath for its
great schools of management and
engineering and Olympian-worthy
sports training facilities; Nottingham
is recognized for its business and
WWW.WANDERLUSTMAG.COM