Agents Zone

Introduction

At Loughborough College we have a long tradition of welcoming International Students and are committed to helping them achieve their potential.

We value the support and co-operation of our educational agents and consultants and have produced these guidelines to help us work together more effectively. Although our website and International Study Guide contain detailed information on our courses and services, we have included extra information here especially for our overseas partners.

If you have any further questions please get in touch with us. We look forward to a successful partnership and see you as part of our team overseas.

The International Team

How we can work together

We always aim to be fair and efficient with our agents. We would be pleased to welcome you to the college, so you can meet our staff and visit the College to see the facilities and resources. We also welcome feedback on changes to the market you are working in or issues which may effect the recruitment of students e.g. visa issues, our application process, transfer of deposits etc.

For applications received via overseas agents, all correspondence will be sent directly to that agent. Offer letters will have the student's address on, but will be posted to the agent's address. Please do let us know of any changes to your contact details.

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Information and publicity materials

Information about the College and our courses are available in various formats:

www.loucoll.ac.uk/international

The website is regularly updated and has information about courses, accommodation, tuition fees, term dates etc. Please take the time to browse the International section, as it will have answers to many of your questions.

Including an application form, term dates and accommodation. 

This booklet gives information about our Higher National Diploma courses, Foundation degrees, "Top-Up" degree courses.

Includes details on A-Levels, Access, BTEC National Diplomas, AVCE's (employment related) courses.

Many of the vocational courses include a work placement element and students will be placed in an appropriate working environment. This part of the course will also be assessed by tutors.

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Formal Agent Agreements

We require 2 references and email contact details from institutions you are already working with. These references should also be on the UKBA Tier 4 list of approved category A sponsors. If this is not possible and you are in agreement, we can continue to monitor your operation and work towards a more formal arrangement. Once we have entered into a formal contract you are welcome to indicate in your publicity that you are a recognised agent of Loughborough College. We trust you will understand why we need to initially operate in this way. You can be confident the college will always honour payment of commission.

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Application Process

Please see How to apply section of the international website

Online form - Apply quickly using the online form. .

Please note: We will also need photocopies of all supporting documents and qualifications and if possible translated into English before we are able to make an offer.

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Travel Arrangements

As soon as travel plans are made, students should complete the Meeting and Greeting form enclosed with their offer letter. Once we receive this, we can start making arrangements for the student's arrival.

The student will receive a taxi booking confirmation form (Download Meeting and Greeting form here), and they should always make sure they travel with this form, as it has a contact number if they encounter delays or do not meet up with their driver at the airport. Please ask students to remain at the airport terminal until they have met their driver. This service is FOC for all students studying for a full academic year or 3 terms. If students withdraw from their studies during this period, we will request a refund.

A member of staff will be waiting at the Halls of Residence to help students settle into their room. For those students choosing Home stay, they will be taken directly to their family accommodation.

Accommodation details will be sent as soon as we have received the flight details.

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How to book accommodation

Please find attached an accommodation request form - Accommodation Form

Halls of Residence

The Halls of Residence are of a high standard, located next to the college. Some rooms are en suite, others have shared bathroom facilities. All students have access to a fully equipped kitchen and student lounge with TV, table games etc. Students will need to provide their own cooking utensils etc

Students choosing Halls of Residence will also need to send a deposit of £250 to reserve their room. Students can also purchase a bedding pack. The pack contains, 1 single duvet, 1 bed sheet and 1 pillow (25 pounds). This type of accommodation is ideally suited to more independent students who enjoy living in a community environment and are able to cook for themselves. Students need to remain in halls for the year. In exceptional circumstances, if there are difficulties, we will endeavour to relocate a student.

Students in Halls should visit the Accommodation Office as soon as possible to complete all necessary documentation.

Home stay

For students requiring the support of a local family, home stay is the best option. Our families are regularly visited and their facilities checked to make sure they meet our required standards. This arrangement includes breakfast and an evening meal. Students will benefit from living in an English speaking environment.

Home stay family payments will be made directly with the family

If students have any concerns about their accommodation before they leave, please do contact us. The Accommodation request form is available on line here.

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Deposits, Tuition and Accommodation fees

A deposit of £1000 (1000 GBP Pounds Sterling) is required before the final CAS is issued and students are able to apply for a visa.

We are unable to provide the final offer letter required for a visa, unless the deposit has been received at the college. We are also unable to agree to our agents holding deposits on behalf of the college.

Students should avoid travelling with large amounts of cash. They can transfer monies to the college ready for the start of their studies. They will need pounds sterling for the first 2 weeks, prior to their bank accounts being opened.

Tuition fees should be paid either prior to the start of the course or within the first 2 weeks of term. Students will be unable to use the college IT facilities and resources until fees are paid. They will need their own password to access the facilities and this cannot be allocated until they are fully enrolled.

Methods of making payments:

Bank Transfer - Contact the International Admissions for further details. Always indicate a student's reference number and name on transfers.

Cheques - drawn on a London Clearing Bank, made payable to Loughborough College. Again, indicate on the reverse of the cheque, the students reference number and name.

Credit Card - Telephone +44 1509 215831 and ask for the Cash Office. Always stating the student's reference number and name.

Travellers Cheques - in £(GBP Pounds Sterling)

Please note: We only refund deposits if a visa is refused and we have official evidence from the Entry Clearing Office. Please make sure prospective students are fully aware of this. Thank you for your co-operation.

Claiming commission

Commission can be paid as soon as full payment of fees is made by students. In order for us to transfer your commission quickly we will need the following information:

• Bank Name
• Bank address
• Account holders address
• Account name
• Account number
• Sort code
• Swift code (if applicable)

It is also important your invoice contains the student names and reference numbers, found on the offer letter. Delay may occur if this information is not provided.

Click here for the Claiming Commission Form.

Please complete this in full to avoid delay in payment. For audit purposes it is important all claims are made during the same academic year the student is studying at the college

Once we have checked the claim against our records we will authorise a bank transfer based on the percentage of fees paid by the student. We make every effort to make payments in 30 days.

Please contact us about levels of commission paid to overseas agents.

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More about Loughborough College

Loughborough College is located next to Loughborough University on one of the most outstanding campuses in the UK. It is spread over 400 acres close to the town centre in the county of Leicestershire. Closer links between the university and college have developed over a number of years culminating in the delivery of Loughborough University International Foundation programmes at Loughborough College. Loughborough College students automatically become members of the Loughborough Student Union and have access to over 100 clubs and societies both on the college and university campus. The Loughborough Student Union has won The Times Award for the `Best Student Union` for five years running and is an exciting, lively multi-cultural environment in which to study and live. We also work closely with many other universities in the UK and many of our student's progress to high ranking universities after successful completion of their studies at the College. Please see the Student Success page for more student profiles and progression data.

We place great importance on the student's whole experience and support them throughout their studies and help them to plan their futures.

We have speakers of Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish and Spanish. All are willing to help our new students settle into their studies.

We also offer a Student Enrichment programme free of charge, organised by the college's Student Liaison Officer. These activities may include, football, music, playing in a band, days out (small cost involved) etc

Academic support and guidance is also available and may include:

• Identifying the correct level of language and learning support
• Liaising with tutors to ensure students receive proper support and guidance
• Advice on degree courses
• Employment advice

Induction

All new students will go through a comprehensive induction programme to help them settle into college life. This will include:

• English Assessment
• College and course information
• Opening bank accounts
• Registering with the Police
• Registering with a local doctor
• Finding places of worship
• Information about the Enrichment Programme

Students also need to manage their money, so they avoid financial distress which may affect their studies. They should plan their expenses carefully and always have enough money for their accommodation, meals, clothes, books, examination fees etc. Although personal spending is difficult to predict, £600 (GBP Pounds Sterling) per month for accommodation and living costs is recommended. Students should not rely on part time employment as a way of funding their studies.

The climate in the UK is very changeable, students will need clothing for cold and wet weather as well as light clothing for the summer months.

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read this section. We also recommend you browse the other sections of the International pages of the, college website as it is regularly updated and gives information on courses, tuition fees, term dates, accommodation costs, latest news and many other aspects of studying and living in Loughborough and the UK.

Finally, please contact us for more information at intl@loucoll.ac.uk . This is also the address for all applications and supporting documents to be sent electronically. Our International Admissions Team check this address regularly and respond as soon as they can.

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