OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE 2017 www.brookes.ac.uk/ international 02 OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE 2017 03 OXFORD: A GREAT PLACE TO 04 WORK PLACEMENTS AND 14 INTERNATIONAL PATHWAYS 26 BE A STUDENT GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY COURSES WHY OXFORD BROOKES? 06 STUDENT LIFE AT BROOKES: 16 PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH 27 WELCOME WHERE YOU WILL LIVE WHAT CAN I STUDY AT 07 INTERNATIONAL 28 BROOKES? OUR HALLS OF RESIDENCE 18 FOUNDATION COURSES SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENT 08 FEES AND LIVING COSTS 20 UNDEGRADUATE COURSES 29 JOURNEY SCHOLARSHIPS, FUNDING, 21 PRE-MASTER’S COURSES 32 CAMPUS LIFE: HEADINGTON 09 FIELD TRIPS AND COMING ON STUDY ABROAD POSTGRADUATE COURSES 33 CAMPUS LIFE: HARCOURT HILL 10 HOW TO APPLY 22 RESEARCH DEGREES: 38 CAMPUS LIFE: WHEATLEY 11 WORLD LEADING RESEARCH HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION 23 STUDENT LIFE AT BROOKES: 12 GET IN TOUCH 39 MUCH MORE THAN STUDYING AFTER APPLYING: 24 WHAT TO DO NEXT Welcome to our International Student Guide. BROOKES STUDENTS’ UNION 13 It’s designed to give you an overview of what it’s like to study at this university, and of the courses we offer. Oxford Brookes is one of the leading modern universities in the UK. We have a strong reputation for excellent teaching and we provide a stimulating, supportive community in which all our students can flourish. We achieved our highest ever overall student satisfaction scores in the National Student Survey this year, coming 17th out of 126 UK universities. An international outlook has always been important to Oxford Brookes and earlier this year the university was listed as one of the world’s top 200 most international universities. 94% of our research was judged to be internationally recognised in the latest assessment of research excellence. We have invested in our campuses providing many high quality new spaces, including the multi award-winning John Henry Brookes Building, and we will continue to invest. Read on to find out why more than 3,000 students from over 130 countries choose to make Oxford Brookes their home. We hope you decide to join them. Professor Alistair Fitt Vice-Chancellor 04 OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE 2017 05 OXFORD: A GREAT PLACE TO BE A STUDENT “I have lived in Oxford for more than 3 years now, and it has never failed to surprise me with its natural beauty and contemporary culture in a historical setting.” “What I enjoyed most about studying here is the wide range of opportunities and learning resources for a Song Pei Fen, Malaysia student in the city. I think that added most value to my degree and experience here.” Sammy Nguyen, Vietnam “You breathe knowledge, you breathe culture in Oxford. I love going to the museums.” Alini Shires, Brazil “I’m having the time of my life in Oxford – I’m really excited to live in this city.” Mia Jorjikia, Russia 06 OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE 2017 07 WHY WHAT CAN I STUDY OXFORD BROOKES? AT BROOKES? In the Pre-sessional English language top 200 see page 27 most international universities in the . Helping you meet our English language requirements to progress onto your degree course as quickly as world possible (Times Higher Education 2016) Foundation courses see page 28 One of the UK’s top modern of our students come from . Giving you the best preparation for your undergraduate universities 18% 132 countries worldwide degree Undergraduate bachelor’s degrees 9 teaching fellowships see pages 29 – 31 Top 20 Top 25 in 7 years . First degrees, called bachelor’s degrees including BA (Hons), BEng (Hons), Bsc (Hons), LLB (Hons), MEng UK university UK university and MMath for course for teaching . Usually 3 years (or 4 years if including a year-long work placement, or if MEng or MMath) satisfaction quality (Times and Sunday Pre-master’s courses Times Good University see page 32 (National Student Survey 2015) Guide 2015) . Giving you the best preparation for your postgraduate degree 92.7% Postgraduate study and master’s degrees of Brookes students are in see pages 33 – 37 work or further study within . Study at a higher level than an undergraduate degree, 6 months of graduating £13m including MA, MSc, MArch, PGDip, PGCert, and LLM . Master’s degrees are usually 1 year (or 2 years if a year over the next 10 of research at Brookes is including year-long work placement) and include taught years to redevelop our internationally recognised modules followed by a research dissertation (HESA Destination of Leavers 2015) campuses 94% (Research Excellence Framework 2014) Research including PhDs see page 38 “After realizing studying in a different country was not only possible, but actually a better option than Top 20 university in 7 subject areas attending grad school in the States, I decided to go for Study Abroad and Exchange it. After doing some research, I learned that Brookes is see page 21 consistently the best university for an MA Publishing degree in the UK, so that’s how I ended up here.” Study in your own country – distance learning Samantha Jacquest, MA in Publishing, USA see pages 34 – 37 Journalism, Hospitality, Philosophy Nursing & Architecture Law Anthropology Publishing & Event Midwifery PR Management & Tourism (Guardian University Guide 2016) 08 OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE 2017 09 SUPPORTING YOUR CAMPUS STUDENT JOURNEY LIFE At Oxford Brookes we offer a wide range of services to support Campus life is a key part of your university experience. you - from when you apply to after you’ve finished your degree. Most students spend a major part of their time on campus, so we have invested in our campuses to make sure they meet your day-to-day needs. “The tutors are amazing, really helpful. You can do whatever you want and they guide you in the right way and introduce you to the things they know. They have a lot of experience but they never speak like they are better than you.” Hutsama Juntaratana, MArchD, Thailand 1 The International Student Advice Team A careers consultant A friendly welcome for international Headington Campus Our specialist team for international (international students) students, putting you in touch with a Just over a mile east of the city centre, students (ISAT) can advise you on visas, Helping you find the information and current UK student who will help you Headington Campus is our busiest. Here finance and employment before you advice you need to make decisions settle into Oxford life. Your buddy will you will find our new award-winning arrive here and throughout your time at about your career, whether working in keep in contact via Facebook, email, John Henry Brookes Building, which Brookes. the UK or in your own country, whilst face-to-face meetings and social events. is changing the lives of our students. you are here and for 3 years after you It houses the main library, high-tech www.brookes.ac.uk/students/isat www.brookes.ac.uk/global-buddies graduate. lecture theatres and teaching facilities, social learning areas, Brookes Union and A personal academic advisor www.brookes.ac.uk/students/careers Student union advice student services. A member of teaching staff providing Brookes Union offers advice on finance, academic support for your current Professionally trained counsellors academic and housing issues. From Headington Campus is also home to studies and advice on your future You can talk to a counsellor about helping secure additional funding to a sports centre, medical centre and studies for the duration of your course. any personal or academic concerns resolving tenancy disputes Brookes has our nursery for children nearby. 2 3 you have. The service is free and Union will offer help. Students of the arts, built environment, Student support co-ordinators confidential. health and life sciences, most humanities www.brookesunion.org.uk A dedicated team helping you solve courses, law, publishing, social sciences personal or academic problems. Disability support officers and international pathways courses are Medical facilities Our specialist Disability and Dyslexia/ based on our Headington Campus – on Our University Medical Centre on Academic English development SpLD Services offer help whenever you one of our 3 sites: Headington Road, Headington Campus offers a full, and support need it, from before you apply through Headington Hill and Marston Road. friendly, confidential medical service. A range of options at undergraduate and to graduation. We offer specialist study Studental, the on-campus dental clinic As part of major on-going investment we postgraduate level helping you develop support for dyslexia, physical disabilities has fully qualified dentists providing high are creating a new home on the campus the specific academic language skills or mental health needs and physical quality modern treatment. for our Business School and Oxford you need for your degree, as quickly as access, as well as funding, alternative School of Hospitality Management. possible. assessment arrangements and liaison This is due to open in 2017. with teaching staff. 4 Upgrade High quality teaching and social learning www.brookes.ac.uk/students/ 1. Our new John Henry Brookes Building Our confidential advice service for spaces and brand new laboratories are wellbeing 2. Headington Hill Hall - home to our School of Law guidance on study skills or maths and also being developed in other major 3. Marston Road - home to our healthcare courses statistics. buildings on campus. 4. Our new Business School and Hospitality Management premises (computer generated image) www.brookes.ac.uk/international/support-and-advice Global buddies 10 OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE 2017 11 Harcourt Hill Campus Wheatley Campus Two miles west of the city centre, Situated 6 miles east of the city centre, this campus is home to students on Wheatley Campus’s leafy site is home courses in education, philosophy and to engineering, mathematics and communication, forming a friendly, technology, and to the Business School close-knit student community.