Work has begun on a new Bournemouth University International College, which will offer international students academic programmes to prepare them for degree courses at BU.
The Bournemouth University International College, located on Holdenhurst Road, will comprise of a four storey academic block and a 16 storey residential block and will welcome 600 international students every year.
The college will offer preparation programmes, which will give students the academic and English language skills to go on and study undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Bournemouth University.
It will be run in partnership with Kaplan International Colleges, who collaborate with universities to prepare international students for studying degrees in the UK.
At a ground breaking ceremony held to mark the start of work on the building, BU Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney, said: “This literally is a ground breaking moment for Bournemouth University, as this new partnership with Kaplan is the start of a new opportunity for us that will help us to realise our global ambitions.
“The Bournemouth University International College is a tool for enabling more students from around the world to experience the education we have to offer, with such potential for talent from around the world to develop at BU.”
Linda Cowan, Managing Director of Kaplan International Colleges, added: “We have worked with Bournemouth University over a number of years and are excited by the opportunity to develop further our relationship with this significant investment in the university and the wider Bournemouth community.
“We will be delivering programmes on the university’s Lansdowne campus, and with BU’s strong reputation in areas like media and tourism – along with the new facilities that are being developed, integrating study, cultural and social space – we have a very strong offer for students from around the world.”
The construction work on the development will be carried out by Watkin Jones, and the building is due to be completed and open by September 2015.