Making sense of academic life in the UK: the voice of the direct entry student at UWE

The academic experiences of a small group of direct entry international students were recorded by a cross-service/faculty project group at the University of the West of England. Findings showed that more could be done to inform prospective students about their course and the different academic culture they would experience. In response to the student interviews, the project team compiled recommendations and a toolkit for staff which focused on transition, teaching and learning, and academic support. Progress has included the introduction of pre-arrival tasks across all faculties and the formation of a cross-service International Student Experience Group.