Participating Universities

The University of Birmingham is an original British ‘redbrick’ university located in the city of Birmingham, just over 150km north of London. It was founded in 1900 as a successor to Mason Science College, with origins dating back to the 1825 Birmingham Medical School and is a member of the Russell Group of research universities and a founding member of Universitas 21.

The Times University Guide awarded the University of Birmingham the 'University of the Year' award in 2014 and the 'University of the Year' for Graduate Employability' in 2015. The University has also invested £5m in its graduate careers services and successful alumni are offered mentoring and bursaries to support work experience and internships in the UK and overseas. Three-quarters of undergraduates undertake work experience as part of their course.

The University currently has over 30,000 students enrolled, 5,000 of whom are international, from nearly 150 countries. Birmingham's central location in the UK means it is easy to navigate, and Birmingham International Airport services many locations around the world.

Founded in 1876, the University of Bristol combines a proud tradition of academic excellence with an independent and forward-thinking spirit.

Situated in the heart of Bristol, the University is one of the 24 members of the research-intensive Russell Group. It is one of the original ‘red brick’ universities - six institutions founded in the major industrial cities of England - and regularly ranks among the best in the UK in major league tables.

Bristol is one of the top 50 universities in the world (QS World Rankings 2020) with excellent graduate employment rates, and the completion rate is among the highest in the country (Times Good University Guide 2018). 87% of students are awarded either a First or 2:1 (who completed their first degree in 2015/16).

24,000 students currently study at the University from more than 150 countries, with many courses offering the option to study abroad for a year or a semester.

CATS Colleges specialise in teaching international students from the ages of 14 to 18, focusing on university preparation through A-Levels, foundation programmes and the international baccalaureate. It was founded in 1952 and has since developed into a prestigious institution with a very high rate of offers to both Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities.

Students begin with an initial counselling session to help you choose from the options on offer and ensure that your choices will allow you to fulfill your ambitions. Parents receive a 'settling in' report within a students first week of term and further reports throughout your time at CATS College. Students are also tested weekly to ensure that they are making the progress they need, and so that extra tuition can be arranged where necessary.

Almost all students graduating from CATS College gain places on university degree courses. At CATS Colleges you can expect:

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is an internationally renowned university based in a campus which provides world-class academic, social and cultural facilities to over 15,000 students from more than 100 countries.

The University is ranked 14th in the Complete University Guide 2019, in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World Rankings 2015-18), and its teaching was recently voted Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2017-2020.

Located in 362 acres of parkland, just three miles from the beautiful and historic city of Norwich, the safe campus boasts award-winning accommodation, the Sainsbury’s Centre for Visual Arts; a state- of-the-art public art gallery and the largest indoor Sports complex of any UK university.

With international standards of excellence in teaching and research, outstanding facilities and comprehensive support, the University of East Anglia offers a truly unrivalled study experience.

At Kaplan International Pathways, education is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in the power of education to change people’s lives.

If you want to go to university in the UK, our preparation courses will bring your skills to the level needed for a degree. Alternatively, we’ll help you gain direct entry if you already qualify. With us, you can succeed at university, in your future career, and in life.

Our pathway courses give you everything you need to support your progression to a top university. We help you to improve your academic abilities, English language skills and subject knowledge, to ensure you are fully ready for your bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.

Many of our teachers have been working with international students for several years, and know the exact academic and English language standards expected by universities. With this wealth of experience, we can help you successfully progress to your chosen degree.

Kent is one of the UK’s top universities. Awarded Gold, the highest rating, in the UK Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, and with a global reputation for excellence – three of Kent’s subject areas are ranked within the world top 100, with a further eight in the top 200 – the University offer students outstanding teaching, world-leading research, stunning study locations and a superb student experience.

Kent offer a wide range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, exciting study abroad and year in industry opportunities, summer schools, and a generous scholarship fund including awards for academic, musical and sporting excellence.

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, Kent was ranked in the top 20 for research intensity by Times Higher Education, outperforming 11 of the 24 Russell Group universities. Because Kent academics are engaged in high level research, as well as teaching, you will study with some of the most influential thinkers in your field.

Kingston University is an inclusive and vibrant university, recognised for its excellent teaching, ranks highly in the world’s list of young universities and has several UK-leading courses. Located in the outskirts of London, our diverse student populace enjoy the best of one of the world’s greatest cities. We offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, several of which are rated the best in the country by The Guardian University Guide 2020. View the course list page to see the extensive offerings across our faculties.

Kingston University’s teaching has been recognised as outstanding by winning The Guardian University Award 2017 for teaching excellence. Courses are also brought to life by interactive learning facilities such as the Bloomberg trading room, the flight simulator, an in-built hospital ward and music recording studio.

The University of Liverpool provide thousands of International students with an amazing, life-changing University experience, in a wonderful city with a global reputation for sport, music, architecture and culture. The University is the original ‘red brick’ university, one of six universities founded in the major industrial cities of England in the late 19th and early 20th century, and also a member of the prestigious Russell Group.

The University of Liverpool is considered one of the best higher education institutions in the world and is home to 22,000 students in total. 85% of international graduates are employed or in further study within 6 months of graduating and, of those who are employed, 89% are working in a graduate level job.

Liverpool offer personalised entrance support into the UK for international students and the student/staff ratio is the 8th best in the Russell Group. The University is ranked 13th in the UK for services and facilities spend per student, and the University are one of the top 25 most targeted universities by leading graduate recruiter organisations in the UK (High Fliers Research).

Mander Portman Woodward, or MPW, is an independent college network based in London, Birmingham and Cambridge. Founded in 1973, it offers students an attractive and modern learning environment to study GCSEs, A-levels and university foundation courses. Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled across all three colleges, around a third of which are international.

All tutors at MPW are highly qualified to first degree or doctoral levels, and many are examiners for the subjects they teach. Study is focused on exams, and course notes are provided to help students better prepare for final examinations. Each student at MPW is assigned to a Director of Studies who will supervise student's welfare and academic performance.

Sheffield Hallam University is one of the largest and most popular universities in the UK, with over 30,000 students from more than 100 countries enrolled. It is also regarded as one of the best modern universities in the north of England and has eight subjects ranked in the top 20 in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times University League Table). Sheffield Hallam is one of the UK's largest providers of health and social care courses, teacher training, and sport and physical activity courses.

Sheffield Hallam's courses are designed in consultation with industry experts and offer opportunities to undertake internships and consultancy projects. Many courses are accredited by professional bodies including Sony, BP, Cisco, BBC, Shell and HSBC. These often offer a direct route to professional accreditation or membership of that body.

93% of graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduation, while a package of discounts and scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students are also available.