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Welcome to UKEducationGuide’s January Newsletter!
Happy New Year and we wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year later this month too!
New MOOC feature launched on the site
MOOC’s are Massive Open Online Courses that are free to sign up for. There is now sometimes a charge to receive a certificate for successful completion of a MOOC, but they are increasingly being seen as reputable and respected qualifications that are starting to carry ‘credit’ towards degree programmes.
We are delighted to now be featuring all FutureLearn MOOCs on UKEducationGuide.
FutureLearn, the largest MOOC provider in UK, entered the growing MOOC sphere in December 2012 when it was founded by the Open University. Since the first course launched in 2013, FutureLearn has accumulated 5.2 million learners, 75% of whom are based outside of the UK, and built a portfolio of 64 UK and international universities and 45 specialist education providers and centres of excellence across the globe.
With the aim of encouraging lifelong learning, FutureLearn centres the learner’s experience on social interaction and invites all learners to try their courses on topics of general interest, introduction to university studies and continuing professional development.
Oxford University is also launching its first MOOC this spring - see here for more details.
Cap on tuition fees increased from September 2017
Over the Christmas holiday it was announced on the UK government web site that the cap on fees for students from UK/EU will increase from £9,000 to £9,250 with effect from Sept 2017.
It is anticipated that most universities will increase their fees to £9,250, but it is unclear how this might affect international fees.
Next instalment of our Student Guide to London…
Popular Watering Holes
All that walking and photograph-taking might have made you thirsty and a trip to London has to include a visit to a pub or two.
The pub is as much a part of British culture as fish and chips or a cup of tea and you can truly say you have mixed with the locals once you have bought a round or two at the bar.
Pubs can also tell you a great deal about British history and these five have just as much to say as a visit to a museum.
The Star Tavern, Belgravia: This establishment has seen many famous people pass through its doors including Diana Dors and Peter O’Toole. It also has the perhaps more infamous claim to fame of being the place where The Great Train Robbery was planned in the early 1960s.
The French House, Soho: This pub was used as a meeting place for members of the French Resistance, including General de Gaulle, during the Second World War. Today it retains a French flavor and even the alcohol is served in measures used across the Channel.
The Dog and Duck, Soho: It was here that the novelist George Orwell used to drink, maybe gathering ideas for his next book. It has been mentioned that in more recent times Madonna has dropped by on occasion.
The Lamb and Flag, Convent Garden: This pub can also boast it has been the hangout of great writers with Charles Dickens frequenting the bar as well as 17th Century poet John Dryden. This pub holds regular celebrations with the bunting being hung out every St. George’s Day.
The Viaduct, Newgate Street: Opposite the Old Bailey, this pub may have acted as a temporary gaol at one time. It is also the last surviving Victorian gin palace in London and the perfect place to visit for a G&T.
If you prefer cocktail bars, then the world is your oyster in London, especially in recent years as the trend for cocktails has seen a resurgence. Callooh Callay, Love & Liquor, The Lucky Pig, Mr. Fogg’s and the extravagantly named Opium Cocktail and Dim Sum Bar are all worth heading to. Party the night away without a care in the world as you can always burn those calories off with more sightseeing tomorrow.
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