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| British Council director Simon Winetroube speaks at the meeting |
Qatari students have been given an insight into the requirements for studying in the UK, learning about lifestyle and cultural experiences associated with living and studying abroad.
The British Council and the UK Border Agency provided the information to students at a meeting at the Supreme Education Council’s (SEC) Higher Education Institute, where they explained the rules and regulations associated with studying in the UK.
The presentations included information on visa requirements.
“The UK remains the clear destination of choice for students from Qatar,” said a spokesperson, adding “its universities provide internationally accredited qualifications which are recognised around the world for their high quality.”
The session also notified potential applicants about recent changes in visa regulations and changes that will come into effect next year, aimed at reducing the possibilities for people to abuse the system.
Director of the British Council, Simon Winetroube said: “The UK has always been the favourite destination for higher education for students from Qatar. We have world class universities and I always hear lovely positive stories from Qataris about the time that they spent in the UK.”
“However, preparing to go, getting your IELTS test and visa sorted out and settling in when you first arrive in a new country can be challenging. We hope that this session will help to make that period much easier and stress- free for Qataris going to study in the UK for the first time this year,” he added.
Director of advising and career development at the SEC, Fazwiya al-Naama said: “The higher education council is keen to provide the best educational opportunities for their students, through the careful selection of international universities of high reputation and distinguished academic records in the various disciplines.”
“Hence, the focus was on the British universities as some of the most prestigious universities in the world,” she added.
Her colleague, Salwa Atiyyah said: “The SEC also tries to provide for the students all kinds of activities that aim to spread awareness about the process of applying to universities on the lists of the SEC, including school visits, Qatar International Exhibition of Universities, and the comprehensive enrollment to universities campaign.”
Mid-November will see the ‘Qatar International Exhibition 2011’ hosted here, which will bring many of the universities on the SEC lists to Qatar, enabling students to learn about the opportunities available to them and the entry requirements.
Educational ties between Qatar and UK have traditionally been strong, and they will take another step forward when Imperial College London establishes a presence in Qatar later this year.
