The British Council has relaunched a massive open online course this week in a bid to help international students prepare to study at a university in the UK. Nearly 8,000 learners from 174 countries participated in the MOOC’s first run in September 2018.
At no cost to the student, the Study UK: Prepare to Study and Live in the UK course is designed to familiarise students with the ways of teaching and learning in the UK, as well as student life.
“This is for all international students who are about to embark on a life-changing experience”
Developed in collaboration with the University of Reading, the four-week course includes video lessons from experts in the higher education sector, a Facebook Live session on January 10, and mentor support throughout. It covers everything from the characteristics of higher education in the UK teaching formats, course assessments, support services and practical guidance on UK student life.
The course is co-funded by the British Council and the GREAT Britain campaign as part of their joint Study UK drive.
Fiona Samson, GREAT Britain campaign director at the British Council explained that the course draws on their combined knowledge and experience of working with international students and applied it to a course that aims to make students feel more confident and well-prepared for study.
“This is for all international students who are about to embark on a life-changing experience and will allow them to join an online community of peers in the same position.
“With more than 273,000 new international students coming to the UK to study every year, we recognise that preparing for success is beneficial not only for the students themselves but also for UK higher education institutions and the reputation of the UK as a study destination,” she said.
Vincenzo Raimo, Pro-vice-chancellor (Global Engagement) at the University of Reading added that he was proud of the key role the university played in developing the MOOC.
“It’s an important tool that shows the UK as a welcoming destination for international students and takes them through some of the challenges they might face,” he added.
