The course starts in September and finishes in June the following year. The year is divided into two semesters, semester 1 from September to February, semester 2 from February to June.
Following discussions between
BEST (Burma Educational Scholarship Trust) and Newbattle Abbey College Vice-Principal Nora Fitzcharles,
with
applications especially welcome from
Burmese students who have been granted refugee status/leave to remain in the UK – however anyone on a student or tourist visa, or is an asylum seeker is sadly not eligible.
BEST’s first Burmese student started his course in October 2006 and ended up being awarded the
Scottish Adult Learner of the Year award.
The Award is a nationally validated course which means that it is certificated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and is therefore recognised across the whole of Europe and internationally. It is also an approved ‘Access’ course. This means that students who achieve all 18 credits which make up the Award, can then go on to study at university.
Successful completion of the Newbattle Award satisfies the entry requirements for degree study at the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews and many other Universities across the UK, with a guaranteed place in a course in the relevant field, when you apply supported by Newbattle tutors.
Contents of Course
The course is made up of 18 separate units and each unit is SQA approved. This means that every unit achieved is certificated. The course offers the following subjects: Information Technology at Intermediate 2, Communications at Intermediate 2, Numeracy at Intermediate 2, Creative Writing, Literature, Psychology, Sociology, History, Ecology, and Politics.
Funding
Newbattle students receive an Adult Education Award (not a loan) for full time study. This will cover the cost of tuition fees and living costs.
The award will vary depending on your circumstances. Students will not be asked to repay this money after they have completed the Award and this will not affect entitlement to any grants for future study.
Students will not qualify for this award if they have previously accessed UK funding for an HNC, HND or Degree.
Successful applicants can be part of that and enjoy a life changing experience.
Newbattle has a great deal of experience in helping students access local, part-time work for spending money whilst studying - the grant covers accommodation/food and study costs but not out of pocket expenses.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should be 20 years of age or over
(no upper age limit). They have never accessed any UK funding for higher education including HNC, HND or Degree. They have few or no qualifications. They feel that they have missed out the first time round, because of the breakdown of education opportunities both inside Burma and for refugees after secondary level education. Applicants may be required to take a TOEFL examination as part of the selection process.
Available Support
Taking the first steps back into education can be daunting but Newbattle Abbey College and BEST are aware of this and will give a commitment to try to provide the right sort of support and friendship, with opportunities to meet up with local native Burmese speakers on a regular basis.
To help BEST help you, please contact BEST for support and advice throughout your application process on
burmatrust@fastmail.fm but do not contact us before the end of July 2007. Students will benefit from high quality teaching in small class groups from tutors who are committed to help you build up your confidence and who will encourage you to enjoy the learning experience.
Through small group work, tutorials and individual sessions, you will develop learning skills and there will be plenty of opportunity for you to discuss your progress with tutors. Newbattle Abbey College has a well-stocked library and excellent IT facilities. There is also access to a counsellor for those who require it. At Newbattle, students ’ welfare and happiness are as important as their academic success.
Moving on from Newbattle Abbey College to a guaranteed University place in Scotland.
In the last couple of years, over 50% of students progressed to Higher Education, 25% to Further Education and 15% to employment. Some of students on leaving take up voluntary work or travel and in fact two students recently went straight from Newbattle Abbey College to teach English in China.
Not everyone who studies at Newbattle Abbey College plans to go on to University. Many are there to learn for learning ’s sake, to become better educated and therefore more employable or to study in preparation for a craft or vocational course at college. Newbattle's motto ‘Sero Sed Serio’ means ‘Late but in Earnest’. It encapsulates what the Award offers, which is an opportunity for adults to have a second chance at learning.
BEST will work with successful applicants providing support on choosing an appropriate course; guaranteeing automatic supplementary scholarship – subject to students being successful in applying for other grant support.
When the Marquis of Lothian generously gave this former Cistercian monastery to the people of Scotland, he wanted those who had never had an education to benefit. 70 years later, the College still operates with the same principles. Newbattle Abbey College is special because of its history.
