Here's How We Support Chinese Students Moving To The UK!

Although the past year has hindered Chinese students from moving over to the UK to study, they still make up the largest international demographic of students!

Granted, moving to a new country as an international student can be daunting, but still a super exciting opportunity that really can’t be missed.

There are so many things to love about living in the UK and rest assured, we’ll be with you every step of the way to support you on your journey.

We sat down to have a chat with Bo Jia, our friendly Chinese Market Business Development Manager, to see how Homes for Students support Chinese students in the process.

Bo has plenty of tips and tricks for international students, so let’s see what he had to say!

Q: Firstly, tell me a bit about yourself, what made you want to come and study in the UK?

A: My name is Bo Jia, I work at Homes for Students as a Chinese Market Business Development Manager.

I studied at the University of Central Lancashire for 3 years.  After I graduated, I worked for Liberty Living (now taken over by Unite) for 6 years.

I have always been fascinated by the culture and beautiful landscapes of the United Kingdom and I firmly believe that there is no better way to learn English than to be immersed in a culture that speaks English.

The UK is one of the most diverse countries in the world, it is a country where you can study and live with students from all walks of life and really broaden your horizons.

Q: Why Do You Think The UK Is Such A Popular Destination For Chinese Students?

A: There are several reasons that Chinese students choose to come to the UK to study.

Firstly, the universities and higher education in the UK have a very good reputation, they are known worldwide.

Secondly, the courses offered are shorter in duration than anywhere in the world. The undergraduate programmes offered in the UK are 3-year courses while the postgraduate programmes are 1 year.

The shorter course duration could mean lower costs in tuition fees and living expenses.

Thirdly, the UK government has offered post-study visas to international students, giving international students a good opportunity to start their career and gain work experience in the UK.

Q: Can you tell us what Homes for students do to help assist Chinese students in their process of coming here?

A: As a student accommodation provider, Homes for Students has a dedicated Chinese social media platform and Chinese-speaking staff.

Students can liaise with staff in their mother tongue and HFS can answer any questions they may have.

For example, during busy periods there are hundreds of questions about our properties from students and we use the Chinese media platform as a tool to break the language barrier.

We have various events at our properties for example Chinese New Year parties and welcome parties to help the students settle in once they have arrived.

Q: Do You Think Chinese Students Will Be Put Off By The Pandemic To Travel To The UK In September?

A: With the rollout of the vaccine, the UK is on the road to coming out of the pandemic.  Universities have already been allowed to restart some face to face learning and it is hoped that after Easter more students will be allowed to return.

If there is not another lockdown, I firmly believe the Chinese students will return to the UK.

According to the international agents we work with, there has been an increase in applications to UK universities since the government announcement.

Q: After communicating with Chinese students regularly, what do you feel they love the most about the UK?

A: There are lots of things they love about the UK, such as the history, architecture, the people and the countryside.

They think the people are polite, helpful and kind. It doesn’t matter where you go on the street or in a coffee shop, everyone is so welcoming and friendly.

Q: Do you have any top tips for Chinese students who are wanting to study in the UK, in terms of preparation/the application process?

A: The UK has always been a popular destination for Chinese students, here are my tops tips when applying to a UK University:

• Before you choose which university you would like to apply to, do some research about the courses, university ranking, and university location.
• Even if you have set a clear goal that you want to be a student at a certain university, it is always best practice to apply to at least three universities, even if they are in different locations abroad.
• Usually, you can apply through the website of the university directly or you can apply via an education agent. No matter how you are applying to university, make sure you have met all the academic requirements.
• When you write your personal statement, you should try to be as honest as possible and share all your experiences that are connected to the academic requirements and your future study programme.
• Make sure you explain why studying at that university means so much to you and what you can gain and offer while being one of their students.
• Some universities may need your reference from your tutor so make sure you have this.

We hope you found these tips from Bo useful! Moving to the UK as an international student is such an exciting time, and with recent stats on the up, it’s clearly a very popular choice.

Please be reassured that here at Homes For Students, we ensure international students are looked after and made to feel right at home in no time.

With our fabulously cosy accommodation close to all the key attractions, get ready to explore your new city with ease!