UK based Filipino students are increasingly looking to Universities as a place to continue their studies after having their fingers burned by private colleges.
Although University fees are higher than in the private sector, students are more secure from the kind of immigration rule changes which the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has inflicted on non-government colleges in the last few months.
As an Immigration Adviser, I have met students who have been through up to three private colleges only to see each one been closed down or had their Tier 4 licence revoked just months after being put on the register by the UKBA.
With this in mind some are no longer prepared to risk losing thousands of pounds on a college which, however reputable, can be put out of business at the stroke of a pen.

So what are the pros and cons of a University compared to a private provider?

The first obvious advantage of using a government funded provider is security. Any rule changes are likely to favour the state sector, which had previously been losing out to more competitive private colleges, and Universities will not likely lose their Tier 4 licence.
The other crucial advantage is that most University courses lead to a recognised Bachelors or Masters degree, which means that under the current rules, you can automatically qualify to stay in the UK under the ‘Post-study work’ scheme for two years under Tier 1 of the points based system. Some private colleges also offer degree level courses validated by Universities.
British Universities are renowned all over the world for their excellence and high standards and a UK degree carries a lot of weight on any CV.
On the other hand, fees for courses will be much higher than a private college, a typical degree course will cost around £8900 per annum, and term times are not so flexible.
However, Evelie Padadac an OISC registered immigration adviser with Bison Management UK, said students with a Philippine degree can benefit from their APL (Accredited Prior Learning) and gain a degree in a shorter time or go straight to a one year post graduate Masters programme.
For instance, a student with a nursing degree and some experience back home could gain a UK BSc in Nursing degree. This would enable them to practice in the UK as a registered nurse, by only completing the final year of the course.
There are a multitude of subjects from Foundation degrees to MBAs available to study with the most popular courses for overseas students being business and management.
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