News

Universities UK, the top representative body for higher education in the UK, today moved to dismiss a number of misconceptions about the visa and tuition fee changes being introduced in Britain. Foreign Students went to find out more.

The President of Universities UK, Professor Steve Smith, was joined by the head of the International and Europe Unit, Dr. Joanna Newman (above), in reassuring international students that they “are an essential part of the UK higher education system” and will remain so.

Indeed, despite the tightening of student visa regulations and the increase in Home/EU student tuitions fees, they fully expect the number of international students coming to the UK to continue rising, just as it has for the last decade. So why are they so sure of this?

Visa Changes

Professor Smith allayed fears that the changes to visa regulations will prevent international students from studying in the UK, instead suggesting that they will have “little or no consequence on legitimate international students”. The tightened rules will simply remove those people currently abusing the system by gaining student visas through fake private colleges.

Every Friday we reveal all the very best things to keep you entertained this weekend . Whether you are staying in, or going out, have a shoestring budget or are feeling extravagant, there is something for everyone.

Staying In

TV

• The Walking Dead: If you haven’t had a chance to watch this US zombie series yet, then now is your perfect opportunity, as Channel 5 are showing the whole first season starting tonight. A police officer wakes from a coma only to find that the world has been taken over by the walking dead. He sets out to find his family, ‘killing’ the infected left, right and centre, whilst making new friends who join him.

When? Friday 15th, 10.55pm-12.30am on Channel 5

Every Friday we reveal all the very best things to keep you entertained this weekend . Whether you are staying in, or going out, have a shoestring budget or are feeling extravagant, there is something for everyone.

Staying In

TV

• Lambing Live: We’re not going to lie to you, this weekend’s TV is not looking brilliant. However, if watching sheep give birth LIVE is your kind of thing then this programme is perfect for you. It may sound like an odd idea for a tv show, but it is strangely compelling.

When? Friday 8th, 9-10pm on BBC 2

Sport

• The Grand National: The biggest horse racing event of the year takes place tomorrow. Held in Aintree, in Liverpool, the race has been running annually for over 170 years. It is the one race of the year that a lot of people bet on even if they know nothing about horse racing. There are 40 horses racing over 4 and a half miles, so the winner is very hard to predict. Why not do a sweepstake for a bit of fun.

When? Saturday 9th, 4.15pm on BBC 1

For sale: aircraft carrier. 25 years old but only one previous owner. £2 million or nearest offer.

This is how a British Navy advert could read after one of their aircraft carrier ships has been put up for auction. After being decommissioned two weeks ago, the HMS Ark Royal ship has been put on the Ministry of Defence’s equivalent of eBay for interested buyers to bid on.

However, if you fancy making a cheeky bid, you must first outline your "intentions regarding the vessel". Early proposals so far have included turning it into a commercial heliport, a base for security personnel during the London Olympics, or a school and nightclub.

If you want to check it out, the aircraft carrier is listed on a website run by the Ministry of Defence’s Equipment and Support department.

Every Friday we reveal all the very best things to keep you entertained this weekend . Whether you are staying in, or going out, have a shoestring budget or are feeling extravagant, there is something for everyone.

Staying In

TV

• Comic Relief: The annual celebrity filled night of entertainment to raise money for Comic Relief is really the only choice tonight. Expect three and a half hours of performances from Peter Kay, Harry Hill, James Cordon and Take That, and special episodes of MasterChef, Eastenders and Outnumbered. Love it or hate it, Red Nose Day is truly now a British institution.

When? Friday 18th, 7-10.30pm

Sport