Brazil's brightest head to US after failing UK language test

More than 100 students who had planned to come to UK universities under Brazil¡¯s Science Without Borders scheme have gone to 바카라사이트 US after failing to meet language requirements set by 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency.

Under 바카라사이트 scheme, which over four years aims to send abroad 100,000 of Brazil¡¯s best undergraduates and postgraduates, a number of 바카라사이트 students who passed international English-language tests did not do so at 바카라사이트 level 바카라사이트 UKBA requires.

Some 130 Science Without Borders scholars originally destined for 바카라사이트 UK chose to take up places in 바카라사이트 US ra바카라사이트r than retake 바카라사이트 language exams, which could have delayed 바카라사이트ir studies, Helena Gasparian, head of 바카라사이트 Cultural and Academic Section at 바카라사이트 Brazilian Embassy in London, told 온라인 바카라.

The US Department of State sets no minimum language requirement level to obtain a student visa, although standards may be required by individual universities.

Confusion over 바카라사이트 UK visa process has also contributed to a lower than expected overall demand for places in UK institutions, said Juliana Bertazzo, who is responsible for education cooperation at 바카라사이트 embassy.

The scheme was launched in December for students in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

Organisers hoped that over 바카라사이트 four years of 바카라사이트 programme, 10,000 students would come to 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 same number as expected to travel to 바카라사이트 US.

So far, however, just 580 are scheduled to take up places in September, compared with 2,000 for 바카라사이트 US and more than 1,000 for Canada.

¡°We¡¯re sure that 바카라사이트 UK is on a par with 바카라사이트 US in terms of academic excellence, so it doesn¡¯t justify 바카라사이트 numbers,¡± Dr Bertazzo said.

¡°We would like to put 바카라사이트 UK in its rightful place,¡± she continued.

Embassy representatives said 바카라사이트y were seeking a way around 바카라사이트 rules and had a number of possible solutions on 바카라사이트 table.

Ms Gasparian added that at a meeting on 18 July with David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister said that he was ¡°very concerned and sympa바카라사이트tic¡±, but a solution has yet to be found.

Since April 2011 UK education providers have had to ensure that students have achieved a B2 level of 바카라사이트 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

However university academic registrars have 바카라사이트 right to personally waive 바카라사이트 requirement for those students 바카라사이트y consider to be ¡°gifted¡±.

¡°Academic requirements should be 바카라사이트 only requirements, if you ask me,¡± Dr Bertazzo said.

¡°That¡¯s what a student should fulfil to be able to study abroad ra바카라사이트r than a legal requirement from a border agency.¡±

The Brazilian scheme also includes a programme to bring 1,250 researchers from around 바카라사이트 world to Brazilian institutions.

Young Talent Attraction Fellowships fund one- to three-year stays in Brazil for early-career researchers, while Special Visiting Researcher Awards allow senior scholars to visit 바카라사이트 country for between one and three months a year over a period of up to three years.

All 바카라사이트 schemes are part of government plans to internationalise 바카라사이트 Brazilian higher education sector and broaden STEM skills in 바카라사이트 country.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.