Interview with British Council certified UK Education agent Lea Napierski
Today, we are joined by Lea Napierski, from Tutor Japan’s office, who recently completed the full course for Education Agent from the British Council! The multi-part certificate program covered diverse topics about the study abroad experience in the United Kingdom. Let’s hear more about the certification process!
Tell us more about the British Council certificate. What was the agent and counsellor training process like?
Lea Napierski: The process was quite lengthy, and covered a wide range of topics, including the structure of the UK education system, why students study in the UK, and what the process is like to apply and come to the UK as a student. The topics about different visa types, and fees and payments were also very valuable and were unfamiliar to me before. The British Council offers this course online, so whenever I had free time I would study the material and take assessments for each of the 8 sections.
Now that you hold the certification, what topics can we ask about?
Lea Napierski: Basically anything related to education in the UK, so from short-term study options, like summer school or summer programs, and about boarding school and university. It’s also great to learn about the benefits a UK education brings, because for many students it is essential preparation for their future career. For many students or parents that are curious about life in the UK, it’s also interesting to learn more about student life. For example, what you can expect from your new school, how your agent can best support you during the process, what happens after you arrive, how do you manage your finances, and so on.
That’s very interesting! Can you tell us more about student life in the UK?
Lea Napierski: Absolutely! A part of the certification program covered student life at university, and talked about how some students start part-time work, or have an internship or work placement while they study. These valuable experiences have a big impact on the graduates’ journey to entering the labor market afterwards.
Boarding school, and summer school as well, provide an international environment in which the children can learn and discover. The UK has regulations and policies in place that support diversity, equity, and inclusion, meaning that every student is welcome to study there, regardless of their background, religion, or whether they require additional support. The schools really try to create an environment in which the children can thrive.
What is the student visa application process like?
Lea Napierski: Longer term student visas are given to students that are 16 years old and above. Additional requirements to receive a student visa include being offered a course by an officially licensed student sponsor, and showing proof that they are able to financially support themselves during the term of the study. There are various courses you can study on a student visa, so it’s best to ask an agent for more information about your specific case. In order to apply for the visa, students must also meet certain language requirements, which are decided by the institution, their course, or by the visa and immigration office.
What about for short term study abroad? Do you need a visa for a summer program?
Lea Napierski: It depends on the duration of the study abroad. For example, anyone can study in the UK up to 6 months as a visitor, so there is no need to apply for a specific study visa. For courses that extend past the 6-month period, short-term study visas are available and allow students to stay in the UK up to 11 months.
Since most summer programs or schools are only a few weeks long, a visitor visa should be sufficient. However, depending on the student’s age, there might be some other requirements. For example, if a student is 12 years old, additional paperwork and proof of parental consent is required, and potentially a child visa is needed. All these things can be discussed with an agent to ease any concerns.
What is the process like for students continuing on to university after studying in the UK? How many people stay in the UK for university?
Lea Napierski: The data show that over 90% of students who went to Sixth Form in the UK (which is equivalent to upper high school level) continued their education journey at university, and mostly in the UK! Almost all university programs in the UK use an online application system called UCAS, and on average the application deadline is at least half a year in advance. If a student plans to join in September/October, most applications close mid-January of the same year.
What happens if a student wants to study abroad at a boarding school, but the rest of their family plans to stay in Japan?
Lea Napierski: For most international boarding school students that is the case. Their family stays in the home country while the student moves to the UK by themselves. Most schools require a guardian living in the UK to communicate with the school, and also take care of the student in case of sickness or school breaks when boarding students are not allowed to reside on the school grounds. If there is no family living close to the student and their school in the UK, parents can contact a guardianship agency to arrange a guardian.
How are school tuition and fees structured? How are they paid?
Depending on the school, there are options to pay everything in full or pay in installments. There are various payment methods available, especially considering transferring between the yen and British pound. Bank transfers can be convenient but your bank might also charge higher fees for conversation rates. I recommend using a credit card if possible. Usually if you have concerns you can always speak with the school directly. As they have many international students, they can help find a suitable solution for most families.
How should students interested in studying in the UK prepare for studying abroad?
Students should start by researching possible schools as soon as possible. Take note of the application process and which entry years are options for the student. Some schools start the application process 2 years in advance, so timing is everything. This research process is where working with an agent can come in handy! Tutor Japan has a large database of schools and can recommend schools based on every family’s needs. The entry requirements also differ according to school, but often times taking a UKiset test is useful for the application process to showcase the student’s level of English.
What was the most surprising thing you learned in the certification course?
Personally, I was interested to learn about the different visa types available for study opportunities in the UK. I was surprised to learn that for most nationalities, it is possible to study in the UK on a visitor’s visa if the course is short-term. There are even more opportunities to gain study abroad experience in the UK than I had thought!
What are the next steps for you after obtaining this certificate?
I’m hoping to connect with more boarding schools and summer programs in the UK, so we can introduce new programs to our students at Tutor Japan. With the certification, I also receive exclusive access to information about events organized by the British Council, which I plan to attend on behalf of Tutor Japan. This way we can support our students better and help find them the most suitable schools for their study abroad experience in the UK.
Post-Interview Thoughts
Tutor Japan is lucky to have certified agent Lea Napierski on their team! Going forward, we plan to continue getting new certifications to best support study abroad to countries around the world. For families interested in hearing more about the study abroad experience, reach out to schedule an appointment with the Tutor Japan team!