GLYNDWR UNIVERSITY - QUALITY UK EDUCATION AT A REALLY AFFORDABLE PRICE - by Ella Lama

Glyndŵr University: The Gateway to the Future

Giving their children quality education is one of the top priorities of parents. And nowadays quality education does not only mean children studying what they are interested in or good at, but getting into the prestigious colleges and the most in-demand programs. It is undeniable that there is a lot hanging in the balance when a decision regarding education is made. It could spell the difference between having a rewarding career and an unhappy life. While many universities in the country are globally competitive and provide sound theoretical and practical knowledge, they do not offer a wide variety of highly specialized courses. In the Philippines, who has ever heard of a degree in Comic Book Art or Floral Management? People who are greatly interested in these existing—albeit strange—courses have to reduce their passion into mere hobbies and settle for Nursing or Accounting. But there is still hope—they can always opt to study abroad.

One of the most obvious advantages of getting a degree overseas is the access to facilities Philippine colleges can only dream of.  This guarantees that students do not only learn key concepts but also their applications. In addition, these facilities are often manned by high-profile industry practitioners who teach the processes to students as well as give them the chance to work in an environment that is as close to the real professional setting as they can get. Aside from the knowledge they can gain, another benefit of studying abroad is having the opportunity to grow in a multicultural environment. After the advent of globalization, the world has started to become smaller and smaller so that it is now common to work with people from different cultures. Exposure to these situations in college trains students to become more socially aware and respectful. And to top it all off, studying in a foreign university gives students what many of them are craving for: the chance to be fully independent. Not only will they study in new surroundings, but they will also live independently doing their own chores and managing their own budgets. This might seem overwhelming for some, but it is the ultimate learning experience.

Now you might think there is a catch, and usually it involves the costs. But there is a great university in the UK that presents all these things at an expense that is similar to some of the top Philippine institutions such as UAP or Ateneo.

Glyndŵr University traces its origins back to 1887, and has been awarded university status as part of the University of Wales. Its main campus in Wrexham covers about 125,453 square meters and houses the university’s own art school, the North Wales School of Art and Design. It has satellite campuses in Gwynedd, Flintshire, and Denbighshire, with each site having specializations in business, compter science, engineering, and many others. Glyndŵr University also boasts of a wide variety of facilities, including a radio station, recording studio, theater studios, art gallery, science discovery center, Chinese Medicine clinic, scene of crime suite, and a British Horse Society Approved Equine Unit. In terms of location, it has the best of both worlds, having access to major UK cities like Liverpool and Manchester and to great countryside and coastal scenery.

Glyndŵr University offers over 150 courses, ranging from foundation degrees, HND/Cs and honours degrees to masters degrees and doctorates. Some of the undergraduate courses are:

BSc (Hons) Community Specialist Practice.This involves a study of generic Community Nursing before moving on to the chosen area of district nursing, community children’s nursing, or general practice. The course allows students to improve in their practice and develop leadership and professionalism. One must be a registered nurse or midwife in order to be accepted.

BSc (Hons) Sustainable Development.Aside from focusing on the areas of surveying and valuations, several aspects of sustainable development will also be studied, including law, social and environmental factors, and design. Renewable energy and sustainable technologies will also be discussed. Because of the recent intensification of the green movement, graduates of this course are highly sought after in the UK and all over the world.

BSc (Hons) Forensic Science.This is a broad interdisciplinary degree that improves students’ laboratory and analytical abilities. They will also learn several transferable skills like research, report writing, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and decision making. Areas of studies that would be covered range from forensic chemistry to photography. Since the University has its own crime scene simulation facility, students can expect a hands-on learning experience.

BSc (Hons) Computer Game Development. Intended for the ultimate games fanatics, this course is not only about the programming techniques that go into game design. This goes deeper into the development of narratives and strong game characters and audio technologies that that make for better games. Skills learned can also be applied to fields in digital production outside game development. Getting this degree promises a career in one of the fastest growing industries in digital technology.

BA (Hons) Design: Interactive Multimedia Design. This course teaches fluency in standard languages and software applications such as CSS, HTML, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Flash. Studying the range of interactive design techniques will help students communicate their messages more effectively and with impact. Opportunities to attend national and international conferences, as well as to exhibit in London and join competitions, are available.

BEng (Hons) Performance Car Technology.For those who are interested in entering the motorsports industry, this is a good degree to get. It teaches the students the science and engineering behind car manufacture, as well as the design and business aspects of automotive development. Students also have opportunity to be part of Glyndŵr University Racing, which includes the experience of working in a competitive race team. 

Courses in the postgraduate level are as extensive as the choices available to undergraduates. Masters-level degrees are also available as doctorates. Some of the options include:

MSc Digital Sound and Vision Processing.This program gives students access to the state-of-the-art technologies in visual and audio engineering. They can use these instruments to produce better products for fields like radio, DVD, and fiber optics development. This is a desirable degree for those who want to enter the world of communications or in further research in engineering.

MSc Creative Media Technology. This course is the melting pot of several disciplines: design, visual arts, information and communications technology, and business. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the course, students will also learn how to flourish in a team-working environment. Graduates of this course can work in lucrative industries such as television, film, and digital media.

MBA Master of Business Administration.This degree is different from run-of-the-mill Business Administration because it focuses on the developments in the fields during the 21^stcentury. Glyndŵr delivers this program in partnership with Georgetown University (Washington DC), ensuring that lessons cover both international and domestic business environments.

MA Interactive Design.Since computers are already a part of almost all aspects of our lives, it is important to know how the relationship between people and information can be enhanced.This course encourages students to work with various kinds of materials, objects, and spaces. They will also review the cultural and theoretical issues that affect design to come up with holistic, human-centered plans.

The best part about a Glyndŵr University education is its cost. Top Philippine schools like Ateneo, La Salle, and University of Asia and the Pacific charge students from PhP125,000 to 210,000 per year, and these numbers reflect only the tuition and not the miscellaneous fees. These figures also do not indicate the expenses in housing, transportation, food, and allowance. In Glyndŵr University, however, the cost of a whole year’s stay, inclusive of the tuition fee and a single-room accommodation in an on-campus hall of residence, is only £6,500 or approximately PhP436,000. In fact, Glyndŵr University was listed as one of the ten least expensive places to live on campus in the UK in the Sunday Times University Guide 2008. Masters degrees are completed in 12 months of study and cost only slightly more than the Bachelor degrees. After graduation the UK government grants international students a two-year work permit to round off their learning experience with employment.

Filipino students should not worry about being homesick, because of the 6,000 or so students at Glyndŵr, more than 700 are from overseas. There are also many things to do around the campus like play sports, watch performances, and be involved in the Students’ Guild, an organization that plans activities for the student body. Students are also allowed to work up to 20 hours per week if the need for extra cash arises. Based on 2007 statistics, 94% of Glyndŵr graduates immediately find employment or go on to further study, or both, within six months of graduation.

Strike while the iron is hot, the old saying goes. While the peso is strong and the exchange rates are low, why not enrol your children in a UK university that promises not only quality education, better opportunities, and unique life experiences? Glyndŵr University is an institution that can give your children a brighter future and admissions for September 2010 is still open. Go to the top of this article and click "download documents" to get the application form and statement of costs. When you have filled out the form, call us or drop by and see us, and we will file your application.

For more information on Glyndŵr University and its admission requirements, you can contact International Education Specialists (Inter-Ed) at 819-1001, 0916-442-6120, or intl_edu_specialists@pldtdsl.net.