2. International Student Counselling(University Representative Services)

Chinese government has opened the education market to the world in order to fulfill the requirements of WTO. The numbers of Mainland Chinese studying in UK higher education have increased dramatically, making them the largest group of non-EU nationals. Therefore, CED will work closely with UK academic institutions, providing excellent consulting services to the potential international applicants.  

2.1 Objective

•  Position CED as a specialist in international education counselling.

•  CED is aimed to recruit 200-300 international students per academic year.

•   Promote Client academic institution’s prospectus in Great Manchester Area & China.

•  Built long-term relationship with client academic institutions & loyal students.

2.2 Market analysis

The numbers of Mainland Chinese studying in UK higher education have increase dramatically in the last five years to 32,000 in the 2002-03 academic year, making them the largest group of non-EU nationals. The British Council predicts that total Mainland Chinese student numbers will be 130,900 in 2020. The majority of student bodies are undergraduate degree & postgraduate taught courses.

2.3 Student composition type

The composition of types of degree taken by Mainland Chinese students has changed dramatically since the mid-1990s. During 1994-98 there were more research postgraduate students than other categories of student, and only a small number of undergraduates. However, by 2002-03 undergraduates and taught postgraduates were clearly dominating the student mix. In 1995-96 only 32% of Mainland Chinese students were undergraduate and taught postgraduate, a proportion that rose to 77% in 2002-03. Research students rose from 1,570 in 1994-95 to 2,114 in 2002-03, while taught postgraduate student numbers increased more rapidly, from 502 in 194-95 to 12,713 in 2002-03. First-degree undergraduates increased from 245 in 1994-95 to 11,669 in 2002-03. From the current trend of Chinese students in UK universities, the undergraduate & postgraduate taught courses are the major composition. Many Chinese students need take supplement English language, A-level, international foundation, or pre master programmes. Therefore, CED will focus on applicants for undergraduate & Postgraduate taught courses, and relevant bridging or preparation programmes. 

                Figure: Chinese student composition in UK Universities

(Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2004)

          2.4 CED’s specific recruitment area

CED’s specific location in the city centre of Manchester, has offer extremely convenience to international students in Greater Manchester Area. CED has established great network and relations with many Chinese international education agencies & academic institutions. CED has identified the main regions where international students come from. China accounts 65% and will the dominant place of CED’s international students source.

Figure: Proposed Students From