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Principal Welcomes International Students

International students of St Mary’s University College attended a ‘Principal’s Welcome’ in the Waldegrave Drawing Room on Friday 9th October. Five new students were awarded Entry Scholarships in the amount of £1,000. It is hoped that through scholarship provision, St Mary’s can play a part reducing the financial burden international students encounter in coming to the UK.

Since the establishment of the International Office at St Mary’s in January 2008, international student numbers have increased considerably. At present, more than 300 students from European Union countries and around 100 from non-EU countries are enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate, Study Abroad and Erasmus (European student exchange) programmes at the University College – accounting for more than 10% of the overall student body.  

Students from Ireland and the United States of America currently make up the largest cohorts, but in the past year there has also been a promising increase in student numbers from Asian countries (particularly Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and Korea). 

International students at St Mary’s have brought a tremendous cosmopolitan flavour to the University College campus. The differing outlooks and opinions they hold, as well as the various life experiences they bring with them serve to deepen the understanding UK students have of other cultures, religions and lifestyles. Such understanding will be vital for St Mary’s graduates when embarking on their careers in the highly-globalised world in which we live.

Clockwise, from top left: The Principal with: Lasantha Sanjeewa Jayatissa from Sri Lanka; Vanishree Venkatesh Maistrypalya from India; Alai Naseer from Pakistan; Angela Warsnip from the USA; Gayathri Ayyavoo from India.