Families programme

   

At the University of Huddersfield we know how important it is to you that your family is also happy in Huddersfield while you are studying. For that reason we offer a structured programme for the partners (wives and husbands) and children of our students.

Luna Hassan
Damascus, Syria
PhD in Informatics

“I discovered the University of Huddersfield through a friend who had studied there and recommended the institution to me.

“It was a big decision for me to come here with my family but I now realise that studying abroad with family includes lots of opportunities and in turn it is very possible to face some difficulties. This experience is also giving my children a great chance of developing their English language skills and visiting different parts of the UK.

“I have three daughters with me in Huddersfield that are all school age and thanks to my Supervisor I have the flexibility to work around school times. When I first arrived in Huddersfield I met a Syrian student who was here with family and she was a big help with giving me information on how to find schools.

“I spoke with the local authorities who helped me enrol my children at the local school which was very straight forward. They are now enjoying the experience of being in a British school, going on school excursions, developing their language skills and making new friends.

“Huddersfield is a nice and quiet town but with enough for students to do. It offers such beautiful nature and I feel it is a safe environment. This for me makes it a perfect place to study especially if you have children with you. The campus and facilities are good and the tutors and local people are really friendly and extremely helpful.

For adults:

i) As a wife, husband or guardian of one of our students you also have access to all of our University degree courses and we can advise you on entry requirements.

ii) If you have IELTS 3.0 or equivalent you can study our University English Language programmes which will take you to IELTS 6.0, a generally accepted standard for entry to a UK University..

iii) If you are not yet at IELTS 3.0 our local partner Kirklees College (new window) can also offer a range of English Language programmes through its edUKate Centre from beginners through to advanced level.  Not only will you improve your English Language, but you will also learn about British Culture, Study Skills and through our Family Learning Programme find out about your child’s learning in school to ensure you and your family settle in quickly.  Kirklees College will also be offering Women Only groups from September 2010.

 

Saleh Alghamdi
Saudi Arabia
Kirklees College English Language Programme

I have chosen the UK for my studies because it has universities with very good and strong standards. The best things about Kirklees College is the technology and the different methods used in teaching and learning as well as access to excellent  facilities such as the Library, the Flexible Learning Centre, Language Labs, Student Union, etc. I was shown all the facilities when I started my course and have a weekly tutorial session with my personal tutor.

“I rent my accommodation from a private landlord, the accommodation is very good and the area is very nice and quiet which is a big plus for me and my family, it’s also close to shops that sell halal food and mosques. I am new to Huddersfield and I haven’t visited many areas yet but there are many leaflets and information sheets at college which give information and ideas about areas to visit.

“Whenever I need support I speak to the International Office. They are always very helpful and supportive. Other support services are available across college but I’ve never needed them because of the support that I get from the International Office. There are Global Village activities organised by the Student Union and the International Office and the Global Village Society which helps students to integrate, and practice our English and increase our knowledge of other cultures.

“I would definitely recommend Kirklees College as a good place to study because classes are well organised, the facilities are great and tutors are very helpful. The International Office is close to students and their door is always open to help and support students, we have regular meetings every month to discuss ways forward to achieve our goals.”  

You can also include other vocational study options with your English Language Programme including Childcare, Business and Health & Safety.

Kirklees College also have limited numbers of childcare places available for registered students.  Please contact them for further details.

For children:

i)  At our partner Kirklees College you can study a wide range of vocational qualifications for students 16+.

ii) You can also study with our partner Huddersfield New College, a highly regarded college that offers GCSE and A-level study in a range of subjects from Maths, Science and English to Photography, IT and modern languages.

 

Deema Refai
Amman, Jordan
PhD Pharmacy

“After I completed my degree in Pharmacy I studied for my MSc in Marketing at the University of Huddersfield after discovering the University through a friend. UK universities are well known for offering high quality degrees that are favoured by employers in the Middle East.

“My husband also happened to join the MSc course at the same time. That is where we actually first met. We completed our studies, got married and then applied for a f scholarship at the University of Huddersfield. We were both accepted at the business school where we were granted a full-tuition scholarship to complete our PhD studies. When the University offered me and my husband a fee waiver scholarship we didn’t think twice about joining as we were so impressed with the level of support and teaching quality.

“We arrived in Huddersfield in 2008. The first few months were quite difficult, having to settle down, arrange accommodation and most importantly start our research. However, everyone was very supportive especially my supervisor, he is always very helpful and understanding.

“I am a research student which basically focuses on developing more enterprising pharmacists through developing a range of generic transferable skills that are essential for them to be more enterprising in the workplace.

“The research will also investigate how the education process in Higher Education Institutions could contribute to this process and in what ways. Having such skills is essential in today’s dynamic world environment. Employers are increasingly valuing these skills, which are essential for driving the growth and success of their organizations in the future.

“My main interest is in the field of Total Quality Management (TQM). I hope that once I complete my studies I will be able to transfer my learning experience into positive outcomes that would help pharmacy schools in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) establish stronger collaborations with the workplace. This will then identify its needs and work toward bridging the gap between the educational process and the market demand by introducing more innovative teaching methods that make the learning experience more exciting and challenging in such a way that develops students’ life-long learning skills, and produces more enterprising pharmacists who could lead the growth and success of their organizations in the future.

“The campus here is very friendly, I feel very much relieved around here. The tutors are excellent and my supervisor is very supportive.

“My husband and I find the environment here very encouraging for studying. Our little baby is 6 months now, it’s a bit difficult to study when he’s around but he just started going to a nursery last week, everyone is so friendly with him and he enjoys socialising.

“Starting a new life in a foreign country and going back to being a student might be a bit difficult at the beginning especially after getting used to having a stable job and working for a few years. Life in the UK is also quite expensive for a family, and one should look for a source of income that would help in covering life expenses.

“On the other hand life is very practical here and everything is available and easy to find, for example, transportation, post, health services and insurance, e-services… which should help students in settling and establishing a life here.”