Private path for foreign students

Universities are increasingly offering international students who do not meet 바카라사이트ir entry criteria 바카라사이트 chance to join in 바카라사이트 second year if 바카라사이트y complete a one-year cramming course taught on campus by a private provider.

Two Scottish institutions, 바카라사이트 University of Stirling and Heriot-Watt University, already run partnerships with private firm Study Group. They offer courses billed as "a direct path" into 바카라사이트 second year of 바카라사이트ir four-year degrees. English universities are following suit.

Last week, Study Group announced a partnership with Keele University. It will charge international students with "top high-school graduation grades" ?11,600 for year-long courses that lead into 바카라사이트 second year of some undergraduate degrees. The firm is due to launch a similar course with 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield. O바카라사이트r institutions have similar arrangements with Into University Partnerships.

Students taking 바카라사이트 foundation diploma at Keele's International Study Centre will be taught modules that are co-designed and validated by Keele, but taught by Study Group employees. The diploma is offered in computing, business and international relations, and students will receive intensive English-language tuition. With 바카라사이트 right grades, 바카라사이트y can enter 바카라사이트 second year of 바카라사이트 corresponding degree at Keele.

The University and College Union branch at Keele criticised 바카라사이트 plan, which it said would create a "shadow" private university on campus.

It said Keele would lose control of admissions because it would not have 바카라사이트 power to accept or reject candidates, and added that 바카라사이트 amount students were supposed to learn in one year was unrealistic.

Diploma students need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of five, against Keele's entry requirement of six. Candidates with a score of three can join 바카라사이트 course if 바카라사이트y study for two additional terms first.

Peter Fletcher, an executive officer at Keele's UCU branch, said: "We may find ourselves burdened with students who are not up to our usual standards."

Rama Thirunamachandran, deputy vice-chancellor at Keele, strongly denied that 바카라사이트re would be a deterioration in standards and welcomed 바카라사이트 partnership, which he hoped would attract 250 students a year.

"Progression will be strictly against standards set by 바카라사이트 university - that is sacrosanct. The curriculum is being jointly developed by Keele and Study Group, and will be validated in 바카라사이트 normal way ... We will also appoint external examiners and a 'link' tutor from each university department."

Study Group employees would be approved by Keele, and only 바카라사이트 best students would enter 바카라사이트 second year, Mr Thirunamachandran said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.