International Office – Country Snapshot – Bahrain

Country Manager: Simon Hall

Email:

Marketing Assistant: Sue Johnson

Email:

Current number of students (Sept 07): 15

New enrolments in 2007: 8

Warwick in Bahrain Overview

The University has visited Bahrain regularly over the past few years, however our presence in the market is still rather limited. There is a large potential for the Higher Education Foundation Programme, as well as for some programmes at the PGT and PGR level.

Annual intake of new students

2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007
Total / 16 / 10 / 5 / 5 / 8
HEFP / 7 / 3 / 2 / 0 / 4
UG / 4 / 6 / 2 / 3 / 2
PGT / 4 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2
PGR / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0

Current Students

-  Foundation: Engineering (3), Business (1)

-  UG: Accounting (3), Engineering (3), Management (1), MORSE (1)

-  PGT: Management (1), Law (1)

Market Overview

-  920 students from Bahrain in UK for 2005 entry

-  General trend of Bahraini students in UK is increasing

-  Subject areas – see ‘Main Areas of Interest’ in opening summary

-  42% of market to UK, 16% to USA, 12% to Jordan, 6% to Aus, 6% to Saudi, 5% to India

Potential for Warwick

-  Very good A-Level and IB Schools

-  University of Bahrain deemed to be of very high standard. Good quality PG applications

-  Good level of English and strong focus on the UK. Warwick’s reputation appreciated more in Bahrain that in most other Gulf countries

Barriers to entry

-  Highly competitive market for HEFP. Leeds particularly strong. Warwick need to do more work in this country

-  Significant majority of students looking for 2nd or 3rd year admission to degree programmes have completed SQA HNDs either in Bahrain or in Scotland

Sponsorship Bodies

-  Ministry of Education

-  Ministry of Labour

-  Crown Princes Scholarship Programme

-  Bahrain Training Institute

Main International Schools:

-  Ibn Khuldoon

-  St. Christophers

-  Bahrain Bayan

-  Modern Knowledge

-  Naseem

Undergraduate offers:

-  Thanawiya/Tawajihi (Local Arab System) – 80% overall with 80% minimum in degree relevant subjects plus IELTS 5.5

-  International Baccalaureate (as per the prospectus)

-  A Levels (as per the prospectus)

Higher Education System

-  2 recognised Universities

o  Bahrain University (or University of Bahrain)

o  Gulf Univeristy (or Arabian Gulf University)

-  Many private Universities – please contact International Office before making offers to students from private institutions

o  Al Ahliya is recognised as a good private University

Entry Qualifications

-  2:1 is equivalent to 3.4 – 3.6

-  1:1 is equivalent to 3.7 and above

-  2:2 is equivalent to 3.0 and above

English Language

English Language is normally very strong in the market. Strong focus towards the UK

Warwick English Language Test

The WELT is available to take through the local agent. Feel free to recommend to students as an alternative to IELTS and TOEFL.

Market Particularities

-  707,160 population.

o  62% Nationals

o  Expatriates: Indians, Pakistanis, Philippinos, Europeans, Americans

o  30% of population under age of 14

-  Strong focus towards UK

-  One of the more liberal countries in terms of alcohol and dress code, though most Bahraini women will wear hijab and should not be approached informally by men.

-  Country feels very secure and westerners made to feel very welcome.

-  English widely spoken

-  Scotland provided quality assurance to Bahrain colleges 10-15 years ago

o  Most colleges providing SQA HNDs

o  Strong affinity with Scotland

o  Significant number of employees in Ministry have graduated from Scotland so still strong preference for Scottish or North of England universities, e.g. Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool.

Recent Activities

-  Exhibitions and school visits in March and October 2007

Local representative

Ebrahim Rasool

(Education Links)

P.O. Box 26643, Adliya, Bahrain

TEL: +973 3 6695549

E-mail:

Alternatively

Local representation is available through our agreement with Global Vision.

Global Vision for UK Education - Bahrain

Country Manager - Mr. Ahmad Abu Shaikha

Tel. +97336323558
E-mail:

(Last updated February 2008)