The British Council’s Education UK Exhibition 2015

Saturday 24 January 2015

Over 3,600 visitors attended the British Council’s Education UK Exhibition 2015 on the first day
Obtaining latest information from over 100 UK schools, colleges and universities

The British Council’s Education UK exhibition 2015 attracted over 3,600 visitors on the first day, including students and parents who are seeking for latest information on studying in the UK from over 100 UK schools, colleges and universities. The exhibition also runs tomorrow from 1.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. at Hall 5G, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

The latest figures released by the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), showed that applications to UK colleges and universities in the 2014 recruitment cycle increased by six per cent when compared to the 2013 recruitment cycle. In the period of September 2013 to September 2014, UCAS received 7,195 applications for entry to UK higher education for the 2014-15 academic year.

‘The UK is once again the top overseas English-speaking study destination for higher education in 2013/14, with 46.1 per cent of Hong Kong students going to the UK,’ said Steve Corry, Regional Business Development Manager at the British Council. ‘We are grateful to see that the number of Hong Kong students in higher education in the UK has continued to rise over the past five years. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), there were 14,725 Hong Kong students pursuing higher education in the UK in 2013/14, showing an increase of 7.8 per cent from the previous year. These increases result from recognition of the quality education, diversity, and multicultural environment of the UK.’

As of 30 December 2014, the number of applications for undergraduate study in the UK for the 2015-16 academic year through UCAS has seen a decline of six per cent. This decrease is expected, due to the falling number of HKDSE graduates from over 79,000 last year to 74,000 in the coming year.

Two UK alumni and one UK exchange student currently studying in Hong Kong under the British Council’s Scholarships for Excellence were invited to share their study experience in the UK, the benefits of UK education, as well as its culture and lifestyle, to help Hong Kong students better prepare for study in the UK. Cecilia Shum, graduate of the Masters of Arts in Public Relations and Society programme at the University of Leeds, commented, ‘studying in the UK was a wonderful learning experience for me personally and professionally. It helped strengthen my determination in developing a career in the public relations field, and make a very good start after I returned to Hong Kong.’

At the exhibition, students and parents can learn about the UK courses on offer, from primary to postgraduate levels, as well as courses that can be taken in Hong Kong, and join a series of seminars on preparation for further study in the UK. The seminars cover the whole planning process for studying in the UK, including topics on how to choose the right schools or subjects, pathways and sub-degree programmes that are available, the UCAS application process, and how to prepare for the application itself. Students and parents can also learn about the changes to GCSE and A-Level and its implications for university entrance. Seminars tailored for students who are interested in studying arts and design and law are also available. UK alumni will also be hosting seminars to discuss about top living tips in the UK. A ‘Paddington zone’ will be set up at the event to showcase popular destinations and events, allowing students to have a first taste of the fun and interesting side of the UK before departure.

The British Council IELTS team will be offering guidance on the application process and will deliver two seminars to provide tips on how to prepare for the test. This year, the British Council IELTS Prize is also available for students who plan to study undergraduate or postgraduate programmes locally or overseas. The grand prizes include five prizes worth GBP12,000 each as a tuition fee subsidy for the top five students in the East Asia region[1], while the local prizes include five prizes worth HKD25,000 each as a tuition fee subsidy. Interested students can apply on or before 31 May 2015.

[1] The East Asia region includes Hong Kong/Macau, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

Notes to Editor

About the British Council’s Scholarships for Excellence

Established in 2006, the Scholarships for Excellence are funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supported by A Better Tomorrow, Hong Kong. It provides UK students who have demonstrated leadership skills, academic excellence and the potential to offer a substantial contribution towards the well-being of the international community the opportunity to spend either a semester or a full year at a Hong Kong university as part of their degrees. In 2014, 18 scholars coming from 12 UK universities were each awarded £3,000 to spend a year studying at a Hong Kong university to experience the vibrant East-West lifestyle of Hong Kong.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide.

We work in more than 100 countries and our 8,000 staff – including 2,000 teachers – work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year by teaching English, sharing the arts and delivering education and society programmes. In Hong Kong, we have been doing this since 1948, giving people opportunities to learn, share and connect worldwide.

We are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter. A core publicly-funded grant provides 20 per cent of our turnover which last year was £864 million. The rest of our revenues are earned from services which customers around the world pay for, such as English classes and taking UK examinations, and also through education and development contracts and from partnerships with public and private organisations. All our work is in pursuit of our charitable purpose and supports prosperity and security for the UK and globally.

For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org. You can also keep in touch with the British Council through http://blog.britishcouncil.org/. To learn more about British Council in Hong Kong, please visit www.britishcouncil.hk and www.facebook.com/BritishCouncilHK.