What is everybody’s first point of consideration while debating an education abroad? Expenditure, of course. Keeping in mind the uncertain foreign exchange rates and an increasing interest among Asian students for an international study experience, universities like the University of Nottingham have set up campuses in Asia but with courses accredited by the parent university.
The University of Nottingham’s Chinese campus was opened in 2004, prompted by a growing market. For Indian students it might be lucrative especially from the angle of costs, current visa restrictions in the U.K. and the fact that China is one of India’s largest trading partners. At present, out of the 544 international students (who make up 9.9 per cent of the total student population on-campus), eight are Indian, besides a small number of Indian academics.
“In the present world market, China is unavoidable. What you get here is similar to the British education experience, but of course, the international students we have here are savvy and know what they are getting into and the international opportunities available to them,” says Ryan Parker, the university’s head of international recruitment. “Knowledge of the Chinese language is not a requirement as all students on campus are proficient in English; minimal knowledge for survival is sufficient.”
The Indian students at the university are studying business or engineering including courses in BA Finance, Accounting and Management, BE Mechanical Engineering, BE EEE, BE Civil Engineering, MSc International Management and MSc Entrepreneurship. The other popular courses at the university are MSc Finance and Investment, MA International Relations and World History at master’s level.
With regard to cultural or local industry exposure, the students have various options by way of extra-curricular activities or academic involvement. On the fun side, the university’s International Office organises activities such as city tour, bowling, quiz night, introduction to Chinese culture through cooking and/or calligraphy, sports evening, local scenic spot visit and an end of welcome week ‘Global Gathering’ gala dinner.
On the academic side, the business courses require the students to undertake consultancy projects for local business. “There is a case of students taking up a project with a U.K. brewery that is looking to enter China,” explains Mr. Ryan.
Coming to costs, here’s the math: The University of Nottingham Ningbo China says that it would cost approximately £ 8,100 per year for all bachelor programmes which stands in comparison to £13,400 -17,300 in the U.K. Students can choose to do their last two years in the U.K. (applicable to engineering, computer science and English) but will have to pay the U.K. campus international fee. The advantage being, they will receive a £ 2,000 discount off each year in the U.K.
Making another case in the point for an education in China, Mr. Ryan adds, “There are booming industries here that are especially applicable to India like Pharmaceuticals, IT and plastics.” But summarising the concept behind the setting up of the university in China, he says, “It’s like Nottingham University has been picked up and put in China. It’s U.K. education with a different experience.”
For more info, log in to: >www.nottingham.edu.cn
