International Student Advisor Blog

When there isn't a taxi available and the road from the village is dusty and you have an appointment in the city it is necessary to utilise all resources at one's disposal. So against my better judgement I hopped aboard a ' border border' and made my appointment with time to spare. When embarking upon overseas education you too will need to be resourceful and patient. Leave plenty of time to jump over all the hurdles you will encounter on your journey to London. Our 'in country teams' and our support staff in the UK are there to support you. Follow the guidance given and your dream could be realised. Good luck.

I'm now back in Kampala helping our October recruits with their final arrangements for visa application. We are very close now to the last date for the issuance of CAS letters so if you are still in the process please move quickly. I am also now interviewing students for future intakes and have seen some very good candidates already. I always use this BLOG to emphasise that it is never too early to apply as things inevitably take longer than one imagines.

I will be back in the UK next week to welcome our International students to our campuses in Greenwich and Greenford. If you are reading this for the first time next year it could be you.

Keep an eye on the international page one of the team may soon be visiting a town near you!

GSM London participated in the talk show Tu Bon Phuong Troi which is filmed at the HTV film and TV studios in Ho Chi Minh City. Dr Phuc Tien and our regional director Emma Buckby took part to discuss the merits and challenges of studying abroad for the students and the family.

The programme will be shown in two parts, Part one will concentrate on before going abroad and during the time and part two will deal with career development and opportunities once the student is studying or has studied abroad.

The TV show is particularly aimed at those interested in going abroad or ex-pats.

From left to right : the presenter of the show, Duong Thi Minh Tam (the editor), Emma Buckby (GSM), Ethan Wong (GSM), Dr Phuc Tien, alumnus of Green College Oxford and owner of Vietnam Centre Point Media and Education company and the camera man.

I'm on the last leg of my trip now, arriving back in the UK at the weekend. I have plenty to do before I get on my flight though. I have another school to see tomorrow and our last advertisement hit the National newspapers today and the phone is ringing. As I have found everywhere in Africa on this and previous trips Oil and Gas management is the most popular course but don't forget we have many pathways including Events Management, Travel and Tourism as well as more traditional management programmes. This will be the last entry of this trip so I will use it to remind prospective students that now is the time to be thinking about finalising arrangements for the October start. Remember you need to be travelling in September and it will take at least a month from the time your passport is sent to the British Embassy. We can help you all the way. Good luck with your applications and very much hope to greet you at one of our campuses in September.

I arrived back here over the weekend having spent more than 4 hours delayed in Nairobi airport, frustrating but alas one of the scourges of the international traveller. I did get to see history made there when Andy Murray won Wimbledon. His journey to the top has taken hard work, help from coaches and belief that he can make it. This is like the journey our students take. Anyway I'm back in Kampala seeing students who have responded to our latest advertising campaign here and going to schools to talk to final year students about Overseas education. Yesterday's presentation was well attended and some of the questions showed real interest. It's a pleasure to be here.

Today I had the privilege of a meeting with the Minister here who is in charge of overseas scholarships for undergraduate students. I was very well received and he was particularly interested in the content of our BSc in Oil and Gas Management. We had general discussions on the challenges to foreign students in the UK and the efforts that the International team make to assist all our overseas students acclimatise and succeed with their studies. He suggested that I invite the education attache based in London to visit our Greenwich and Green ford campuses. I will definitely do that on my return. I travel back to Uganda on Saturday for more student interviews.

I had the opportunity at short notice to make the trip to Botswana. Today I have arrived and had initial meetings with an organisation that hopefully will represent us here in Gaborone. Tomorrow afternoon I have a scheduled meeting with the Minister responsible for all overseas Government scholarships. There is particular interest in our Oil and Gas Management programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. My local number here is +26776178544. Please contact me if you wish to meet me here.

I want you all to know the importance of getting everything in place early. For the June intake we have had 5 students that are having to defer their admission until October as a result of their visas not coming out of the Embassy in time. All have been frustrated and upset. Please allow a minimum of 6 weeks from the time you have everything in place to qualify for your CAS. This will prevent stress and ultimate disappointment. All is not lost as these 5 will now be able to arrive in good time to settle in to London life prior to induction and commencement of studies.

Yesterday afternoon I travelled out of Lagos with an old friend and colleague. We went to Ogun State past the La Farge cement works to the town of Ilaro. Our purpose was Outreach to the local community. We stopped first at my friend's school. He had attended here as a boy more than 30 years ago. The caretaker was keen to show us around and we followed his jangling keys as he unlocked the doors. We entered and before us was a gloomy room with narrow benches and equally narrow writing desks. In the front was evidence of the teacher's activity. A thin cane lying across the desk, chalk and writing on the blacked out walls with maths and English. In the corner was a pile of books, showing evidence of being devoured by many hungry brains. Looking up one could clearly see, through the rusty corrugated roof, evidence of the evening sky. Unashamedly I shed a tear. Is it possible to gain WAEC credit passes under these conditions? Clearly it is but how much more valuable are they than GCSEs passed in a UK state of the art Academy? I think I know the answer. As I bid farewell to Nigeria, I wish success to all those taking exams this summer in whatever circumstances they find themselves.

The Nigeria leg of my trip is coming to an end. Tomorrow I travel to Kampala Uganda. Already my schedule is crowded but am very keen for anyone wishing overseas studies to visit me in the Equatorial Mall office. Nigeria has, as usual, been productive. As you have seen the office is ready to receive and help you. Only this morning we had students from our Greenwich campus paying a visit. They are currently on holiday here but took time out to see me. Thanks to them and to all of you who have seen me here.

Life can be a real challenge. Lagos epitomises this. In my 10 days here we have experienced less than 5 hours electricity. There have been more problems than usual as pipelines bringing fuel for generation have been vandalised. Everybody has to rely on self generation so the noise of petrol and diesel generators can be distracting. Fuel then becomes scarce resulting in queuing at petrol stations. Individual households try to save fuel by turning off generators for long periods. As I said life can be a challenge. Here we are though working away seeing more and more students some of whom are wanting to transfer midway through studies because even by starting again on our 2 year honours programmes they can complete earlier than their classmates. Check out the website and our range of two year programmes and come in for a consultation.

I arrived in Abuja on the first flight from Lagos. All those who know Nigeria domestic flying will be pleased to hear checking in is now a pleasurable experience! On my arrival my host for the day was still working on my schedule so I organised to re-schedule other appointments. As usually happens when one has limited time everybody wants the same time for appointments then ,being Africa, time is only an estimate of reality. Anyway I managed to meet with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation and we agreed to work together for mutual benefit. I met also with new students wishing for October entry and also those that are waiting anxiously for visas for June entry. To avoid stress please conclude application and visa process early, Samson is packed and ready just awaiting his passport. I'm back to Lagos tonight and happy to report Abuja Airport looking good too. Well done FAAN.

It is amazing how quickly time flies by when one is on the road. I have already left Accra and arrived in Lagos. If you missed me there you can still contact me by email and I can deal with you remotely or direct you to one of our country representatives, all trained by me to give you personalised attention. Now my focus has turned to Nigeria and I'm working from our Lagos office. We have done some local advertising so my visit is well publicised. A constant stream of potential GSM students are arriving all keen to get admission for October 2013. I know October seems a long way off but if you don't want to be disappointed please get your application in soon. I'll be in Abuja on Thursday and Friday. Come and see me.

Lagos team at the ready!

My Africa trip has started and I'm looking forward to meeting lots of potential students wishing to further their education in the UK as well as visiting our offices and meeting with new and existing agents.

My role has many facets but the most rewarding is meeting students and seeing their enthusiasm and joy when told they have the right qualifications for the course of their choice. I have seen some excellent prospects here in Ghana already and I'm looking forward to guiding them through the steps required to get a visa and arrive in time for the October session.

Please remember that it takes up to three months to prepare for UK studies and so applications should be coming in during June.

Potential MSc Oil and Gas Management student ready for admission.

Welcome news for all International Students, our Greenford campus which opened to UK students last October is now ready to accept International Students from the June 2013 intake. This means that you will have the opportunity to study in South East London at our 40 year established Greenwich Campus or at our West London Greenford site which is 30 minutes from the West End of London. Same great degrees, same quality teaching, now a choice of venue.

Meanwhile I’m continuing my journey in East Africa. I’m basing myself here in the GSM office, Equatorial Mall, Kampala, interviewing prospective students, wishing bon voyage to those that are leaving for our February intake and re-assuring parents that we at GSM, will do everything that we can to ensure that their offspring study hard and succeed. We have an excellent track record and reputation for taking care of our international students. Check out my itinerary and come and see me in Kampala, Addis Ababa, Nairobi or Dar es Salaam before I travel West to Nigeria and Ghana.

As I stated in the entry before I left Kampala in November 2012 GSM London has exciting initiatives in East Africa. On this trip there will be first time visits to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa. This trip is seeing a number of firsts for me here. Yesterday I travelled on a Border Border. This is a motorbike taxi service in Kampala, so named as first such bikes used to transport people across the border from Uganda to Kenya. They have the equivalent in many African and Asian countries.

I had never ventured into this dangerous realm but with the traffic bad and my appointment in the President’s office looming there seemed no alternative. It was an initially harrowing but ultimately exhilarating experience that got me across the city with time to spare. Most experiences that take you outside your comfort zone have mixed emotions attached. Overseas education would be one of these. Initial reluctance followed by fear and ultimate satisfaction once the preparation is done and the task embarked upon. In the hands of experienced professionals the experience can be enhanced.

My border border driver delivered me safely and ahead of time. GSM London will deliver you to your educational goal in similar fashion. Remember going outside your comfort zone enriches and matures you.

Arrived in Thailand and had meetings with several of our representatives here. GSM London has traditionally had strong links with S.E. Asia and some of our very best students have come from this region.
We're looking forward to this continuing and I have been here explaining all our new programmes and the addition of our new Greenford campus.
The speed of change is such that no sooner than I have arrived home than it is time once again to make people aware of new developments. These are indeed exciting times at GSM London and for our current and future students from all over the world.

I'm now in my country retreat enjoying a few days R& R before returning to Bangkok next week Tuesday for a final round of meetings before my return to UK on the 30th. I thought I'd share my "office" and view with you.

This is my last morning in Kampala, I fly to South East Asia to begin my work in Thailand tomorrow. I have had a terrific welcome in this great country. To all the people that came to visit us in Nakumatt Mall at the weekend, all the staff and students from Kabojja International School, all the staff and students from Rainbow International School and every potential student that came to my hotel or the office I extend grateful thanks. GSM is making strides in East Africa, we have exciting initiatives to pursue and I'm already looking forward to my return early next year or before.

I was up bright and early this morning, making sure that the tent was being erected in the correct spot and supervising decoration and paying for the electricity. Very grateful that the torrential rain of yesterday has given way to a clear and fresh Kampala morning. I hope that the photograph shows that the impact was fantastic. After a slow start we had a steady stream of genuinely interested people asking questions on all aspects of our courses. Many took away literature and we have much work to do in the coming days following up on all the leads. The weather thankfully held out although there were times when we thought that we were going to get very wet. I'm writing this on Sunday morning. Another long day ahead.

This is my last morning in Kampala, I fly to South East Asia to begin my work in Thailand tomorrow. I have had a terrific welcome in this great country. To all the people that came to visit us in Nakumatt Mall at the weekend, all the staff and students from Kabojja International School, all the staff and students from Rainbow International School and every potential student that came to my hotel or the office I extend grateful thanks. GSM is making strides in East Africa, we have exciting initiatives to pursue and I'm already looking forward to my return early next year or before.

Today was a day for outreach into the international school sector of Kampala. We were invited to give a short presentation to year 12/ 13 students at Kabojja School. It’s very important to give students the range of options available to them. I was asked to explain the UCAS system and to give a brief summary of the courses on offer in GSM London. There was obvious interest in our BSc in Oil and Gas Management in light of the recent discovery of oil here in Uganda on the shores of Lake Albert. Geoffrey and I had some lengthy discussions with some very interested students that were keen to learn all about London and the opportunities. Thanks to all those who participated and to staff who made it possible.