WHY MCL ?

Whatever you do in life, your career opportunities will be significantly improved if you obtain a degree, diploma or professional qualification. Further and Higher education is about realising your potential. At MCL you will have the opportunity to study a diverse range of subjects to a high level, develop skills and knowledge and continue your career and personal ambitions with a world class qualification.
‘World Capital’ of the 21st century At MCL you will be based in the heart of London, a modern, vibrant, innovative and inspiring city.

London is increasingly recognised as the world capital of the 21st century, whose financial, educational, cultural and social benefits towers its competitors. According to the influential New York magazine (2007) “If Paris was the capital of the 19th century and New York of the 20th century, London is shaping up to be the capital of the 21st century.”

Benefits of Studying in London

London, as the capital of the UK, is one of the top destinations for national and international students. It has more to offer international students compared to other countries.

• An International Student Community –
In choosing London as your place of study, you will form part of an extensive community of international students from all corners of the world with whom you will live, study and learn from. The rich mixture of culture and experience gained from this will contribute to the enjoyment of your learning experience from which you can confidently follow your personal life plan.

• World Class Internationally Recognised Qualifications –
Degrees and qualifications awarded by UK higher education institutions and professional bodies are internationally recognised as being of the highest quality and world class. Standards of excellence are set, followed and encouraged and these are vital qualities as selling points in gaining future employment.

• Comparably Lower Education Costs –
For international students, the cost of education in the UK is comparably lower than in the USA and other countries. You can save money as your degree course will normally take less time to complete in the UK compared to other countries. UK degrees are usually of 3 years duration, although some are longer. Masters degrees are of 1 or 2 years duration. This can lead to considerable cost savings. Shorter courses also mean students can realise their earning potential sooner than their counterparts elsewhere.

• Part-time Work Opportunities –
London is the economic heart of the UK offering diverse work opportunities for students. As an international student, in accordance with present immigration rules for students studying in the UK on student visas, you will be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during college term time and full-time during vacations.

• A Multi-ethnic City –
Wherever you come from around the world, London’s rich, vibrant and colourful ethnic mix means you are never far from opportunities to meet, enjoy the food, and enjoy cultural events of communities who hail from your country of origin. London need not be a distant and cold city. It can be your home from home.

• Student Oriented Benefits –

The range of experiences, opportunities and benefits available to international students can make living and studying in the UK more affordable and a top educational destination.

Enjoy the ‘London Experience’: Living and Studying in the World Capital of the 21st Century

London is an exciting place to live and study. It is a famous and influential world capital with a rich cultural, social, economic and inventive past which guides its path in becoming the true 21st century world capital.
As one of England’s best known literary figures Dr Johnson said more than 300 years ago, “anyone that tires of London is tired of life.” This is still so true today.
An Inspiring and Modern City and Home to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games London is one of the world’s truly great cities. A dynamic, multi-ethnic city of nearly eight million people, London is the biggest city in Western Europe and is truly cosmopolitan, where daily 300 languages are spoken.
It has something for everyone to experience, enjoy and be inspired by. London provides ease of access to culture, social life and sport and is recognised as a world centre for commerce and industry which creates valuable opportunities for future employment for students.
London is a city which never standstill. It is constantly developing and changing. Many new skyscrapers such as the 72 storey “Shard London Bridge”, the Bishopsgate Tower, Norman Foster’s Gherkin and numerous other proposed new landmarks continue to transform the city’s skyline.
Moreover, it is the home to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in Stratford, East London and the new 02 Arena is the third largest music arena in the world and premier arena for international pop bands and singers.

A World Capital of Finance and Commerce As one of the world’s three largest financial centres alongside New York and Tokyo, London has a dominant role in many international financial markets ranging from cross-border bank lending to foreign exchange trading. The Financial Square Mile is a leading job creator and provides potential opportunities for students for future employment. A Cultural and Green City London is a culture lover’s paradise. The city has long been known as a world centre of entertainment, be it arts, theatre, sport and shopping.
Many of the world’s most famous theatres, art galleries, museums, dance companies and concert arenas welcome millions of Londoners and visitors yearly.
Special festivals are organised throughout the year, such as the London Mela, the Chinese New Year celebrations and the Notting Hill carnival (the second biggest in the world after Rio de Janeiro).

London is a leading world centre of sport whatever your interests, be it tennis at Wimbledon, Rugby at Twickenham, Cricket at Lords and The Oval or Premiership football.
London is commonly known as ‘The Green City’ with its diverse range of Royal Parks and open spaces. The city’s 1700 parks (39% of London’s total area) make it one of the greenest cities of the world. A Multi-ethnic City London as a whole and particularly East London is an example of “beauty in diversity”. MCL is located in
the heart and soul of East London which has a vibrant community of people from diverse countries and of different nationalities who contribute through their culture, cuisine, arts and music to the magic and inspiration of living in London in the 21st century.

A Culinary City
London has transformed itself into one of the most popular cities for food. Precinct cafes, restaurants, pubs and fast food outlets are widely located to meet the tastes and budget of everyone. Traditional British fish and chips nestle alongside restaurants offering Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, French, Greek and Japanese foods among others offering you an international menu.

A Gateway to the UK, Europe and the World
London’s central location allows you to easily explore at affordable cost the unique, exciting and amazing beauty of the UK and many amazing attractions. Each area of the UK has its own distinct attractions and historical places of interest. You can explore the outstanding natural beauty and traditional seaside towns of the East, South East, South West and Wales; the industrial heritage of the heart of England; the vibrant cities and beauty of the North West and North East of England and the rugged beauty and mystery of Scotland.
With the advent of a plethora of budget airlines and the Eurostar train service from the new London Kings’ Cross Terminal, London is a perfect base to explore the diverse historical and cultural countries of mainland Europe.

From the UK’s major air and sea ports there are connections to all destinations of the world.

A City Which Need Not Be Expensive
There is a common misconception that London is an expensive city to live in. It need not be. There is affordable accommodation available for student living which MCL will advise and assist in finding. As a student living in London, you can enjoy all what London has to offer at reduced rates. Students are entitled to use 18+ Student Oyster photocard which is the best ticket for public transport providing 30% discount.

Furthermore, walking is a fun, free and green way to get around London which is one of the least dangerous capital cities of the world.
Whether you use public transport or walk, you are never far from the traditional landmarks of London which include Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s, Big Ben at the House of Parliament, Tower Bridge or the London Eye.
When you come to study at MCL, you will become part of London. Located in the heart and soul of London in the East End we hope you will be inspired by what MCL and London has to offer you and to take those opportunities and experiences to be bold, confident and well qualified individuals for your future destinations.

A Capital College Committed to Educational Excellence and Quality Teaching
MCL is a professional and committed teaching provider aiming to provide students with an excellent education through highly qualified and experienced departments combined with modern and extensive facilities and a solid student support system. We provide modern lecture rooms equipped with IT based facilities, a dedicated computer lab with unlimited internet facilities and a library stocked with recent editions of textbooks, periodicals and journals to supplement students study guides and lecture materials to assist them in their research and studying. MCL welcomes students nationally and internationally who come from diverse backgrounds. The eclectic mix of students provides for a stimulating educational experience.

Being part of MCL, you will have the advantage of social and educational interaction with students from around the world in an educational setting where you will have access to all that you need for your studying and research. We offer you an opportunity to receive high quality teaching and research guidance to help you attain an internationally recognised qualification in the subject of your choice, combined with developing lifelong friendships in a warm student community.

A Warm Welcoming Environment with Personal Care
MCL understands the huge personal and financial commitment which is involved in studying in London. Many of our students will be leaving their country of origin and their families for the first time to pursue their studies. We aim to provide all our students with a warm welcome and attention to their personal care while living in London and studying with us. Our Student Welfare Officer is available to give advice and guide students in adapting to their new living and studying environment and being there for all our students who simply need a friendly chat. Students are advised to read our Student Learning Facilities section in this prospectus on the range of services and help offered by the College.

A Wide Choice of Courses at an Affordable Cost

At MCL we aim to offer you choice and flexibility with distinction. Whether you choose to pursue an undergraduate, postgraduate or professional course, we offer courses suited to your interests and strengths. Our degree based courses prepare students for degrees which are externally set, assessed and awarded by the University of London and Northumbria University.
The courses we offer at MCL provide a range of compulsory and optional subjects to enable you to specialise where you so desire and to be assessed by examination or a combination of assessment and examination.

MCL also offers courses preparing students for professional and diploma courses which are set, assessed and awarded under the guidance of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Association of Business Executives (ABE), and the British Computer Society.

MCL offers courses which students can progress from either internally at MCL or externally at their University, College or profession of choice.
At MCL we aim to provide courses which are affordable. We understand the high level of financial commitment which is involved in studying for national students and international students coming to London. We endeavour to provide students with courses which are not only of a high standard of quality but are affordable and represent value for money.

Courses offering a Coherent Educational and Professional Career Pathway

We offer a wide range of preparatory courses which students can take which meet the entry requirements for higher level undergraduate, postgraduate and professional study.

Flexible Entry Academic Year
The academic year at MCL is divided into 3 terms, January to April, May to August, and September to December. We offer courses for new students at the beginning of each term, providing students with a choice of starting their course in January, May or September (see overleaf).

Teaching and Assessment

At MCL we offer a range of teaching and assessment methods. Most courses lead to examinations and assessments which are externally assessed by the appropriate University or professional body. MCL courses are taught by a mixture of formal lectures, seminars and tutorials depending on the course chosen.

Other teaching and assessment methods include presentations, essay and dissertation submissions, and computer-aided and library learning and research which may take place as part of a group or individually.
Where relevant to a student's chosen course of study, national or international study trips may be arranged by MCL.

Throughout our courses, student will be assessed and required to undertake mock examinations prior to their final examinations. Intensive revision classes are incorporated into course structures to aid students.
Our highly qualified and experienced teaching staff is committed to providing maximum support to our students.

Our highly qualified and experienced teaching staff adopts a wide variety of internal assessment methods to assist students in understanding their chosen subjects.

At MCL we are committed to providing maximum support to our students and preparing them for the rigorous high standards required to attain their chosen qualification set by the external Universities and professional bodies.

University/Professional Linked Courses
Our courses prepare students for degree courses which are awarded by the University of London or Northumbria University and professional and diploma courses run by a wide range of professional bodies.

MCL courses offer students the opportunity to pursue further study at Universities nationally and internationally and to follow professional courses to facilitate entry in the profession of a student’s choice. At MCL we offer expert careers advice from our highly experienced academic and professional staff to help you explore and decide the next step in your educational career.

Preparatory Courses to Satisfy Degree, Diploma and Professional Courses

Many courses require a student to have studied specific subjects at a particular level. If you do not have the qualifications necessary to meet the specific entry requirements of your chosen subject, we can advise and offer courses at diploma or AS/A level to meet the requirements.

For mature students (over 21 years of years on entry), entry requirements for certain courses may be waived wholly or partly based on the students relevant work experience, commitment and ability to succeed.

If you are unsure what subject to study or whether you meet the specific entry requirements for your chosen course, you can seek advice by contacting the college directly or by contacting one our overseas representatives.

Mature and Part-Time Students

We have considerable experience in meeting the specific concerns and demands of mature students (over 21 years of age on entry) and those seeking part-time courses that work around their other commitments.

Mature students without formal education qualifications are encouraged to apply. We will assess your relevant practical and work experience together with evidence of your commitment and ability to succeed.
This will allow us to give you constructive advice on the most appropriate courses, level and method of assessment. We offer courses with flexible starting dates in January, May and September of each year. Part-time courses are available for home students and international students who do not require visas. These courses are available for many MCL courses and we can offer flexible timetables if you are only able to study part-time so that you can benefit from your chosen course of study.

Options to Accelerate Your Studies
Depending on your chosen course and level of study, you may be eligible for exemption from part of the course on the basis of previous examinations taken or on the basis of previous experience. You should contact MCL or the appropriate University or professional awarding body to determine whether you are eligible for exemptions.

Customised Courses for those Returning to Study or Part/Full-Time Students

If you are returning to study you may feel the need for some support or advice. We offer advice sessions for students wishing to return to studying and a range of short day and evening courses before the start of each academic session, including a ‘Return to Study’ course.
You should contact the College for more information on the range of courses available as these courses are offered additionally to those included in this prospectus.

We also run weekly drop-in workshops and advice sessions for enrolled students on skills guidance and literacy and numeracy support.

MCL - A Great Central Location to Study
MCL is located in the heart of East London. It is easy to find and close to all major public transport routes and to all that London has to offer.

London Underground - The College is only 10 minutes walking distance from Bethnal Green Underground Station on the Central Line from which all parts of London are easily accessible on the London Underground network.

Mainline Railway – Cambridge Heath station is a mere 5 minutes from the College from which there are trains every 15 minutes into Liverpool Street mainline station. Liverpool Street is part of the London Square Mile financial district. Cambridge Health station can also be used to catch trains to other parts of the South East of England and connections to the Midlands and North England and Scotland. Full details on reaching MCL are enclosed in the CONTACT US section at the end of the prospectus.

Teaching Hours

All full-time students are required to attend daytime classes for a minimum of 18-21 hours per week from Monday to Friday. At least three hours research work in a relevant field is highly recommended under the supervision of a course teacher.

A Firm but Fair Disciplined Study Environment
MCL is committed to ensure a high quality academic and research environment for its students. We firmly believe that educational success necessitates an understanding and appreciation of personal discipline to succeed in education and in life. This demands all students to attend classes regularly and punctually.

Student Attendance Policy

International students studying in the UK on a student visa are required by the Home Office to attend a minimum of 85% of their scheduled classes as part of a full time course of study involving at least 15 hours organised daytime study per week.

MCL maintains strict attendance records. The Principal, Registrar and Heads of Department have access to this information and it is at the College’s discretion if it is seen fit to remove a student from a class and expel them from the college because of poor attendance. In the case of unavoidable absence (through sickness or compassionate extenuating circumstances), the College must be informed. A medical certificate is required if there is more than three days’ consecutive absence owing to illness. Absence through compassionate extenuating circumstances must be supported with appropriate evidence.
MCL policy on student attendance states that if a student's attendance is less than 90% or if a student stops attending a course before the end date specified on the acceptance letter, the College has a responsibility to inform the Border and Immigration Agency of the Home Office. The College will also be unable to assist the student to renew their student visa. See the MCL Attendance and Punctuality Policy

FAILURE BY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON STUDENTS VISAS TO ADHERE TO IMMIGRATION GUIDELINES ON ATTENDANCE IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION OF IMMIGRATION RULES AND MAY LEAD TO STUDENT VISAS BEING WITHDRAWN OR NOT RENEWED AS THE CASE MAY BE.