The courses, exams and rent costs will be the same, but students might be surprised by two noticeable differences – the weather and nightlife.
Anyone who misses out on a place at Bolton University this year could be offered the chance to study 3,000 miles away at the institution’s campus in the United Arab Emirates.
Demand for UK university places is so high that around 200,000 students are expected to miss out when A-level results come out tomorrow.
University bosses said they wanted to offer students with good grades, but who narrowly miss out on a place, a chance to study at the university’s Ras Al Khairmah (RAK) campus, 45 minutes away from Dubai.
They will be able to register interest for the three-year courses, which are directly equivalent to those provided for students in Bolton, through the clearing system.
Undergraduates in the Middle East will sit the same papers, set by the same exam boards, and will be marked and externally verified in the same way.
Tuition fees and accommodation costs will also be the same as those charged to undergraduates studying in Greater Manchester.
However, as yet it is unclear whether those studying abroad would be entitled to apply for the same student loans as undergraduates completing courses in the UK.
Campus social life though will be considerably different will no alcohol fulled parties or pub crawls during freshers week.
Laura Carruthers, undergraduate recruitment manager, said Bolton students had previously been given the opportunity to study at the RAK campus for a semester, but this was the first time that full degree courses had been offered to UK undergraduates.
‘The vice chancellor has said that UK students who meet the criteria for courses at the University of Bolton will be offered a place at the RAK campus as one of the alternatives to ensure students do get a chance to go to university, given the demand on places this year,’ she said.
‘Students who graduate from the RAK campus will receive a University of Bolton degree.’
Professor Rob Campbell, Pro Vice Chancellor at the university, added: ‘Given the demand on university places for UK applicants this year, the University of Bolton is offering potential undergraduates places at its RAK Campus.
‘The university will charge students the same tuition fees as it’s UK-based students and accommodation fees will be the same as they are in Bolton.
‘Studying in another country gives a student a unique experience, living and learning within a different culture. The skills they develop will serve them well in their careers to follow.’
The campus, the university’s first international campus, was opened in September 2008 to cater for a growing ex-patriot community and students from across Asia and Africa.
The Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khairmah, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, was among the first 55 students to graduate when he was awarded an honorary doctorate in February this year.
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