Guardianship in Belfast
Guardianship in Belfast
One of the top priorities of the UK legal system is the protection of children. As they constitute the most vulnerable layer of the population, especially the children who came from abroad and don’t have parents around them. For this reason, parents of any child who is planning to study in the UK for more than twelve weeks need to find someone who will provide them with guardianship in Belfast or any other city in Britain. Many boarding schools and other educational establishments make it a requirement to have guardianship in Belfast, though they also have responsibility for their students. It’s because different events can occur that require the involvement of an adult to protect the child’s rights.
Who can provide guardianship in Belfast?
One of the possible solutions is finding a family member living in the United Kingdom, as guardianship in Belfast can be provided by a relative of a child. But they can’t be their brother or sister, but aunts and uncles can become legally appointed guardians. At the same time, guardianship in Belfast can be provided by a special agency that specialises in this kind of service. They need to obtain accreditation first, and only afterwards can they offer the services of guardianship in Belfast. Whether it's a relative or a company, the one who wants to have the right to provide the services of guardianship in Belfast needs to meet certain requirements.
First, they should be no younger than twenty-five years of age. Second, future guardians need to possess proper accommodation to host a child during holidays. Sometimes, a child can be suspended from school or fall ill, and in this case, a person who has guardianship in Belfast over them also needs to provide them with a place to live during the period. That’s why residents of student accommodation can’t serve as guardians.
Third, for obvious reasons, a person cannot have a criminal record related to drug abuse or pedophilia in order to gain the legal right to provide the services of guardianship in Belfast.
Guardianship in Belfast and all around the United Kingdom requires a legal guardian to perform a number of tasks besides hosting a child.
- The person who is providing guardianship in Belfast needs to assist a child when arranging documents, visas, and filling in different applications. In general, help them with all the bureaucratic matters that require the presence of a responsible adult.
- Another important duty of a person who provides the services of guardianship in Belfast is to render decisions on behalf of the child’s parents when an urgent medical treatment or a surgery is required.
- Sometimes, the duties of guardianship in Belfast involve attending meetings organised for parents by boarding schools.
If parents choose the option that involves the services of a company, then they may opt for a price plan that includes an extended number of services. For example, giving out a specific amount of money to a child in a particular period of time. Usually, companies that provide the services of guardianship in Belfast charge between £4,000 and £5,000 per year.
Why Belfast?
Northern Ireland boasts many beautiful places, and one of them is the city of Belfast, the twelfth largest city in the United Kingdom. The name of the city translates as "river mouth of the ford" in the Gaelic language. More than three hundred thousand people live in the city, that makes it the largest city in Northern Ireland. There are two universities in Belfast: the Queen’s University of Belfast and Ulster University.
The Queen’s University of Belfast, or QUB, was established in 1810 under the name of the Belfast Academical Institution. Thirty years later, it acquired its present name. The University is comprised of three faculties that have fifteen schools. The Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is subdivided into the School of Arts, English, and Languages; the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Politics; the School of Law; and a number of others. The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences includes the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science and others. Finally, the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences has the School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Biomedical Science; the School of Nursing and Midwifery; and others.
Besides academic studies, students can participate in a wide range of clubs and societies at the Queen’s University of Belfast. There are more than fifty athletic clubs and more than a hundred non-sporting ones. For example, there is the Literary and Scientific society, participants of which conduct debating sessions and discuss cultural and political issues to practice their oratorical skills. It’s a rather famous society that was established in 1850. They often invite influential personas, well-known in the Irish and British political fields. Together with it, there is the International Students Society, Malaysian Students Society, the Dragonslayers Gaming Society, and others. Any student can find something of their interest and fulfil their lives with experiences, that fascinate them personally.
The Queen’s University of Belfast has conducted Belfast Festival at Queens every year since 1961 up until 2015, and it continues to run Queen’s Film Theatre, the Brien Friel Theatre, and the art gallery and a museum. International Society of the University conducts an event called Culture Shock, where students from all around the world hold performances and represent their own perception of life and culture in Northern Ireland through the prism of their national identity.
The Queen’s University of Belfast offers international students a number of scholarships, some of which are merit-based and some of which depend on the country of origin. For example, international students from Europe and Central Asia can be awarded a scholarship that is worth from £2500 to £3000 if they are enrolled in one of the full-time undergraduate programs. Students from Middle Eastern and North African countries also have a chance to get a £2500 scholarship. Four international students with the highest academic achievements at the time of application will be awarded a 50% tuition fee discount, which will be waived for the duration of their studies.
To be eligible to study in the main program at Queen’s University of Belfast, international students from non-English-speaking countries need to show a high level of the English language and support it with a valid certificate from an official exam, such as IELTS, CAE, or others. If they don’t have a sufficient language level, students can first undertake a pre-sessional English course. It’s an intensive program that aims at brushing up foreign students' knowledge of academic English in the shortest time possible so that they comprehend the curriculum and don’t fall behind other students. This course is also available online; it costs £1,800 and lasts four to ten weeks.
If a student wishes to skip the phase of pre-sessional English or foundation year in one of the British establishments of higher education, they may first finish a high school in the United Kingdom. At the very least, they may spend a term or two studying English and becoming acquainted with the British educational system in a summer program offered by many schools in Belfast. Campbell College, founded in 1894, is one of them. 33% of high school graduates are accepted into Russell Group universities. It’s a boarding school for boys from the ages of three to eighteen. International students come from thirty countries, and they’re welcomed at Campbell College. International students who do not have a sufficient level of English can take additional English classes at Campbell College. Such classes can be taken in one-to-one mode with a teacher or in a small group with other students of the same level. Before enrolment, students' English level is assessed via a test that can be taken online. For example, eight and nine-year-olds should have the level equivalent to an IELTS band score of 3.5, and thirteen-year-olds need to have the level equivalent to an IELTS band score of 6-7.
Campbell College features thirteen sports facilities, including football pitches, swimming pools, and shooting ranges. All the boarders have time to participate in sports after their main academic classes. On the whole, they need to keep to a schedule. Students have breakfast at 8.00 a.m.; their classes start at 9.00 a.m. and continue up to 3.30 p.m. Afterwards, they can enjoy participating in various clubs, including sports. Today, more than 150 boys live in a boarding house, with both domestic and international students all together.
The fees for full-time boarders include basic medical costs, the cost of textbooks and meals. However, the weekend trips to cinemas, theatres, and museums, as well as taxis, require additional payment. This is how international students aged eight to fourteen need to pay around £23,200 per academic year for full boarding. Some international students who show high academic achievement are awarded a 50% discount from Campbell College.
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