NCUK & The University of Auckland to Launch University-Branded International Study Centres

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NCUK – The University Consortium has today announced a collaboration with the University of Auckland to launch a number of University-branded International Study Centres with the first commencing in China early in 2021.

The new initiative is part of the University’s strategy to support international students looking to gain entry through a pathway delivered in their home country. As part of the collaboration, several NCUK Study Centres will recruit students looking to join the University of Auckland on successful completion of their course.

Auckland International Study Centre

Following Education New Zealand’s partnership with NCUK on 2 December, this collaboration further strengthens New Zealand’s ambition of attracting high calibre international students to choose New Zealand as a study destination. The partnership between NCUK, Education New Zealand and all eight of New Zealand’s universities allows students from more than 30 countries to pathway from any of the NCUK’s global network of 80+ recognised Study Centres, to any New Zealand University.  All New Zealand Universities are supporting this partnership and committing over $300,000 per year in dedicated scholarships.

Brett Berquist, Director International at the University of Auckland, said the University-branded International Study Centres initiative was part of a wider range of strategies to bring the University of Auckland closer to prospective international students.

The University already operates a number of international partnerships at undergraduate and postgraduate level, so it seemed natural to expand on this to offer pre-university preparation. We have worked with NCUK and their global Study Centre network for several years, so we are delighted to extend our collaboration further.

Brett Berquist, Director International, The University of Auckland

Jenny Dixon

The partnership will see the launch of two University of Auckland International Study Centres in China initially, with the first cohort due to start in March 2021. Under the innovative initiative, NCUK will provide quality assurance and oversight of the centre administration. The students will complete pre-university entrance qualifications with the added benefit of a bespoke New Zealand studies module developed by University staff. Throughout the year, students will benefit from direct links to the University as they prepare to make the move to studying on campus in Auckland.

Pictured left: Professor Jenny Dixon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Engagement) at the University of Auckland, signs the agreement between NCUK and the University of Auckland

NCUK has a long history of providing innovative pre-university and university equivalence qualifications to students in their home country. This collaboration with the University of Auckland is an ideal way for students who want to join the University, but for whatever reason are not able to begin their studies in New Zealand, to start their academic journey.

Professor John Brewer, Chief Executive Officer, NCUK

The first University of Auckland International Study Centres launching in 2021 will be located at the International Business School of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). In 2020, BFSU was named NCUK Study Centre of the Year, the organisation’s highest accolade recognising both the quality and year-on-year growth of international students at the Centre. The three-way collaboration makes BFSU the ideal location for the first Centre of this nature given it is an existing Study Centre and a partner of the University of Auckland.

Our students are increasingly looking at a variety of destination universities of high standing quality. This collaboration with NCUK and the University of Auckland, both already partners of our university, opens up new opportunities for our students and provides a March intake which is of interest to many students. It is a great honour to be the first International Study Centre to collaborate with NCUK and the University of Auckland, not only in China, but around the world.

Yanping Zhang, Assistant Dean & Director of International Office at the International Business School, Beijing Foreign Studies University

The first cohort will commence March 1st 2021. Enquiries to international-ibs@bfsu.edu.cn.

About Beijing Foreign Studies University

Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) has been a University of Auckland partner since 2005. The University-branded International Study Centre will be based at the International Business School (IBS), one of the youngest and most dynamic schools at BFSU and also the largest in terms of student numbers.

The first University of Auckland International Study Centre to launch in 2021 will be located at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU)

The first University of Auckland International Study Centre to launch in 2021 will be located at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU)

IBS currently has more than 1500 students and has had an established partnership with NCUK since 2014. The school has been delivering NCUK’s International Foundation Year and International Year One qualifications for many years. The BFSU Study Centre has always been one of NCUK’s most engaged and professional partners. Since the establishment of the partnership with NCUK, they have cultivated more than 300-400 NCUK students so far and achieved great academic success.

About the University of Auckland

Founded in 1883, the University of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest research-led university and the only university to rank within the world’s top 100 in the country.*

Home to 44,000 students across its five main campuses, the University of Auckland has gained a reputation as a world-leading education provider. In total, more than 9,000 international students from over 120 different countries are welcomed to the University each year.

In 2020, the University ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive year in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, acknowledging progress made towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

With 33 subjects in the world’s top 100 and 13 in the top 50, the University of Auckland offers its students an indisputably high quality of education.** Students and graduates of the University are highly employable both nationally and globally, with exposure to experienced professors, many of whom are global leaders in their field.

*QS World University Rankings 2020

**QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020