International Student Success

“I came to study A Levels at Abbey College Manchester in September 2014. At fi rst I was really nervous about studying away from home and not knowing the language very well but I do not regret coming here for one second. I have made many great friends, learnt a lot about British culture and have fantastic memories of my time here. I received great help with my English by attending IELTS classes which were vital in helping me understand my subjects.
 
The college is quite small and so you feel part of a community where people want to help each other. My teachers were always there for extra help if I needed them and their advice during the university applications process was really good and I have now managed to gain a place at a great university doing the subject I always dreamed of doing.”

“I will look back with great happiness at my time spent in Manchester at Abbey College Manchester. I have made many great friends during my time here and I move on to university with nothing but thanks to all the staff that have helped me during my year here. Their doors were always open if I needed any extra guidance which was really valuable. University applications support is excellent here too. My tutor helped me prepare my application and gave me good advice on how best to write my personal statement.
 
I lived at the college residence with fellow students whilst studying here. The facilities there were high quality with all bedrooms being ensuite and the living and kitchen areas being well equipped and modern. Living at the residence gave a great balance between living independently while still having the support of the House Parents whenever needed.”

“The staff and students made the college a very warm, friendly and welcoming environment. I found that everyone related in an informal but respectful manner which has enabled me to perform better academically as well as socially. The quality of education here is of a high standard and there are also lots of extracurricular activities that I got involved in as much as possible. I took part in the Engineering project, which involved working in a group with a senior engineer from a national manufacturing company. We worked on a real life problem and designed a solution to it. The project really helped develop my skills in teamwork, communication, resenting and leadership. My time at Abbey College Manchester has been an unforgettable experience, which I feel I have taken full advantage of. I would certainly recommend it to other students from Nigeria and from other countries too.”

“Abbey College Manchester has an excellent reputation in getting students onto their first choice courses at university. My tutor helped me prepare my application and gave me good advice on what to put on my personal statement. The college also arranged practice university interviews which was brilliant and prepared me for the real thing.
 
The college residence is nice and is only about a 15 minute walk away from the college. The rooms are quite big and have their own bathroom. It gave a great balance between living independently while still having the support of the House Parents. The House Parents were supportive and the environment at the residence was great for learning. It also really improved my English even more.”

“Being the only student from Albania in Abbey College Manchester I was a little nervous at the start. I did not need to worry; everyone was so friendly and welcoming.
 
The learning resources and equipment in the college were good. The teachers made the classes enjoyable and they were very interactive. Having very small class sizes too helped my confi dence and my communication skills. I got really good help when preparing my university application and managed to get several great offers. I did well in my examinations and managed to get to the university and onto the degree course I really wanted. The experience at the college was one I will never forget and hopefully there will be more students from Albania that will come and study in Manchester.”

“Studying Abbey College Manchester was a great experience for me. I came here to study A Levels and my aspiration was to then go on to study Medicine at university. I’m so pleased that I have managed to achieve this. Throughout my two years at the college the teachers have been really helpful and supportive. They put on extra sessions for students like me who wanted to apply for medicine that were designed to prepare our university applications from compiling our personal statements and advice on the UKCAT to having practice interviews.
 
Classes at the college are really small, never more than 12 in each, and there are no barriers between the teachers and the students. Although you are worked hard the environment is friendly, informal and really supportive.”

“Life at Abbey College Manchester has been a wonderful experience that has played a signifi cant role in my academic success so far. I originally came to undertake a Two Year A Level Programme. Things did not work out as I had hoped but the college through their fl exibility allowed me to transfer across to the International Foundation Programme. It was the best decision I have ever made. The learning style of the course suited me much better and I was really motivated and committed to succeed.
 
The quality of the teaching was outstanding and I always had full access to my teachers for questions outside lessons and to my tutor who advised me on my university application. The college gave me the confidence to apply to a great university and to achieve the score to get in.”