Education

International students - studying in the UK

Summary: Where to get information, where to study and things to consider, for international students with sight problems.

• Where to get information
• Order a factsheet

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If you are blind or partially sighted, and you want to study English as a foreign language within the United Kingdom, you will need to consider first:

• How long you want to live in the UK
• the level of English you want to achieve
• how you will afford to pay to study and live in the UK, and
• whether you want to study for a formal qualification or not.

Where to get information

The British Council

The British Council is an organisation which promotes British culture and language in countries around the world.

If you are planning to come to the UK for several months or longer, you may find it helpful to contact the nearest British Council Office in your own country. If you are unable to visit the UK, the British Council will be able to advise you about courses in your own country and self-study materials that are available.

Skill - information booklets

You may find it useful to get a booklet called Information for international disabled students. This is published by Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities and is available in large print, disk, braille and tape formats.

Contact:
Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
Chapter House
18-20 Crucifix Lane
London SE1 3JW
UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7450 0620
Fax: +44 (0)20 7450 0650
Email: info@skill.org.uk

What can I study and how much will it cost?

Please check with the following organisations on course availability and fees. Please note that RNIB is unable to contribute to course fees.

Language centres

English UK
219 St John Street
London
EC1V 4LY
UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7608 7960
Fax: +44 (0)20 7608 7961
Email: info@englishuk.com

The members of English UK are English language centres in private schools, further education colleges and universities. They are accredited by the British Council.

English UK members offer the widest range of general and specialist English courses in the world – from summer activity courses for juniors to high level intensive and professional English, and from pre-university courses in academic English to training for English teachers. Many offer full-year university foundation courses too.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses

These are friendly, flexible programmes to help improve your English language skills for life, work and study. They are for adults whose first language is not English and who are living in the UK, including asylum seekers and refugees. These courses are offered at many colleges.

Visit the Learndirect website for more information. If you are already in the UK, you can telephone Learndirect on 0800 90 11 00 who can advise you where courses are offered.

Language courses for blind and partially sighted people

Eye Talk English offers language courses to blind and partially sighted children and adults. Eye Talk English provides individuals and groups with a combined programme of English lessons and daily excursions and activities.

Eye Talk English
141 St Mary’s Road
Tonbridge
Kent
TN9 2NL
UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1732 50 85 92
Email: eyetalkenglish@lineone.net

Royal National College for the Blind offers courses for international students.

Royal National College for the Blind
College Road
Hereford
HR1 1EB
UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1432 26 57 25
Fax: + 44 (0)1432 377 6628
Email: info@rncb.ac.uk

Order a factsheet

You can get a version of the information on this page in print, disk and email formats. Braille and audio versions can be produced on request. Please contact:

Karen Edwards, RNIB
Telephone: 01509 63 24 16
Email: karen.edwards@rnib.org.uk.

Student homepage

Content author: studentsite@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 08/04/2008 18:38