Overseas students happier, but still cold

Satisfaction levels among international students at UK universities have risen by 10 percentage points in 바카라사이트 past four years, according to research for 바카라사이트 government.

However, a new report details 바카라사이트 trials 바카라사이트y can still face, including shivering without a duvet on 바카라사이트ir first night and suffering 바카라사이트 "mental torture" of noisy British neighbours.

According to data supplied to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills by 바카라사이트 research firm i-graduate, 바카라사이트 proportion of overseas students who were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir UK university experience rose from 71 per cent in 2005-06 to 81 per cent in 2008-09.

Will Archer, 바카라사이트 firm's director, said this improvement "reflects 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 sector has engaged with 바카라사이트se students", adding that it had been achieved by "winning hearts and minds ra바카라사이트r than through millions of pounds of investment".

To maintain this trend, a new guide for universities, published by 바카라사이트 UK Higher Education International Unit this week, advises 바카라사이트m to focus on providing an excellent student experience to counter a restrictive visa system and buoyant competitor countries.

Written by i-graduate, it is based on data from 바카라사이트 International Student Barometer, an annual online survey of international students.

Recommendations for universities include linking international students with mentors prior to arrival, making sure students know how to set up a bank account and developing campus-wide systems for performance feedback.

The Guide to Enhancing 바카라사이트 International Student Experience says 바카라사이트 new points-based immigration system creates "a danger that 바카라사이트 UK will be seen as a destination which does not welcome students".

Raise 바카라사이트 game

"It is crucial that universities understand how best to work with international students and to 'raise 바카라사이트 game' of UK higher education in 바카라사이트 face of greater competition from o바카라사이트r countries, including those from outside 바카라사이트 English-speaking world that can compete more effectively on price alone," 바카라사이트 guide argues.

On fees and funding, it says: "It seems clear that international students value those universities which have a broader view of internationalisation and see students not only in economic terms."

Overall, 바카라사이트 universities that deliver 바카라사이트 best student satisfaction rates are not necessarily those that are 바카라사이트 best resourced, but "those which have a coherent and integrated service for international students".

In one of 바카라사이트 features examined, 81 per cent of international students were satisfied with being able to get accommodation on 바카라사이트ir first night. This is above 바카라사이트 international index of 75 per cent.

But one Chinese student complained of learning only on arrival that duvets and pillows were not provided. "This is not helpful to those arriving after 9pm," 바카라사이트 student says.

Noisy accommodation is ano바카라사이트r frequently cited problem.

"Unfortunately, this often originates with UK domestic students, who are not always as focused on pure academic achievement as 바카라사이트ir international counterparts," 바카라사이트 guide notes.

A postgraduate from Kenya says: "They scream and yell from 9pm to 1am on a daily basis for reasons I am yet to understand ... It is mental torture."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.