General

Q.Am I allowed to find work in Derry?

A. You are only legally allowed to work 20 hours per week on a Tier 4 General Student Visa if it was issued before 3 March 2010. If you obtained your first visa after this date, then you are only permitted to work 10 hours per week. If you have a Student Visitor Visa (SVV) then you are not permitted to work during your study period. Foyle always recommends that students' main concentration should be on study. For more details, please consult the UK Border Agency website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Q.Do I need a visa to study in Northern Ireland?

A. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and therefore any student from outside the EEC area may require a UK Visa. A full list of countries that require a visa for the UK are available on the UKBA website: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/
Visa Routes
There are two visa routes for students who want to study in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Student Visitor Visa: This is a short term visa for students who want to stay no longer than 6 months. Students do not apply under the Points Based System and do not need to have completed any previous English studies. This is a suitable course for beginners and low level students.

Tier 4 (PBS) Visa: This is a long term visa for students who want to stay 6 months or longer. At the moment (March 2010) the condition for application to study in the UK for 6 months or more is that the student has a minimum level of Intermediate level English and is ready to study at B2 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of levels).

There are more details about this in the UK Visas Booklet available on the website and from the admissions office.

Q.How do I find accommodation?

A. Foyle Language School has an accommodation officer who can provide help and advice with your accommodation requirements. We can provide Home Stay accommodation with a local Irish family or individual, which is booked and arranged through the accommodation office. We also provide shared self-catering apartments at the local residential campus, again booked and arranged by our accommodation officer.

However long term students (6 months or more) may require privately rented accommodation. We cannot deal directly with landlords on behalf of students, but we can provide help and advice in choosing suitable rented property and how to deal with landlords and letting agencies.

Q.What does staying with a host family involve?

A. Staying with a host family means you live with the family (or individual) as a household member and eat and relax with them. We have an excellent pool of host families in Derry, who live in close proximity to the school. All our host families are selected after meeting the highest of criteria. Our families are chosen because they are interested in hosting international students and have something to offer each guest staying with them. We take extra care in the selection of families, as we know that the host family plays a central role in ensuring that your time spent in Derry is an enjoyable one. The Irish are renowned for their warmth, generosity and friendliness. Staying with an Irish family is a very enjoyable and beneficial means of getting to know Irish people and an excellent way to use and practice your English. You are guaranteed friendly and personal attention throughout your stay.

Q.What type of weather should I expect in Ireland?

A. Students coming from southern Europe may find Ireland considerably colder than they are used to. However Ireland is relatively mild for its northerly position in the Atlantic due to the Gulf Stream which runs along Ireland’s west coast. Our weather can change quite dramatically from morning to afternoon with beautiful sunshine giving way to downpours of rain (and vice versa).

Q.Where exactly in Ireland is Derry located?

A. Derry is situated in the North West of Ireland. It is also known as Londonderry. It is officially part of the UK, but it sits on the border of Donegal (Republic of Ireland).