ELH NEWS AND VIEWS 2025
Reviewed and updated by TGV (dates shown below)
Keeping you updated on what is happening at ELH, in Milton Keynes and in the UK.
24/08/2025
THE BRITISH COUNCIL INSPECTION 2025
The British Council will inspect English Language House on 18 and 19 November 2025.
The British Council will inspect English Language House on 18 and 19 November 2025.
English Language House will be inspected by the British Council in November 2025. This will not affect the lessons we teach but the inspectors may visit classes to see how well our teachers are teaching their lessons. The inspectors may also want to speak to some of the students to find out what they think about English Language House, the teachers, the Office staff and the lessons.
15/03/2025
NEW VISA RULES FROM APRIL 2025
UK Tightens Short-Term Study Visa Rules
The UK government has announced tighter restrictions on the Short-Term Study visa route that will take effect from 9 April 2025. Education institutions and visa applicants will need to stay informed of these new requirements, which are expected to result in higher numbers of short term study visa refusals.
What is the Short Term Study Visa?
The Short Term Study route is open to international students studying English language courses in the UK for between 6 and 11 months.
The visa restrictions for this route are strict, and visa holders do not have the right to work or switch to another visa category. However, the Home Office has raised concerns that the route is being misused by individuals with no real intention of studying. In its statement announcing the changes the Home Office says the stricter rules are aimed at preventing abuse of the system and ensuring that only genuine students benefit from the route.
Changes to the Short Term Study Visa
From 9 April 2025, the key updates include stronger powers for caseworkers to refuse applications where there are concerns that the applicant does not have a genuine intention to study or leave the UK after their course ends, along with increased scrutiny on applications, particularly those from high-risk regions or from applicants with weak supporting evidence.
More detailed guidance on the new requirements is expected.
The Home Office states that the changes are designed to prevent students from overstaying after completing their course and beyond their period of leave as a visitor, and to stop individuals using the visa for reasons other than education, such as working illegally.
Further measures are also expected as part of the government’s broader review of the Student and Graduate visa routes.
Impact of the changes
Education providers offering English language courses will need to prepare for the potential impact on recruitment and visa application success rates. Institutions will need to look to strengthen their admission procedures to ensure that all students applying for a Short-Term Study visa can demonstrate genuine study intentions and ensuring international recruitment teams understand the stricter requirements. For example, visa applicants should be informed of the need to provide extensive and comprehensive supporting documentation, such as proof of course enrolment, financial stability and intent to return home after studies, to reduce the risk of visa refusal.
Realistically, however, institutions should prepare for increased visa refusals, in cases where immigration officers suspect that a student may not comply with visa conditions. If refusal rates do increase, and/or there is a resulting decline in international student numbers, some language schools and colleges may see lower enrolment from international students, which could impact institutions reliant on tuition fees from short-term courses.
The UK government has announced tighter restrictions on the Short-Term Study visa route that will take effect from 9 April 2025. Education institutions and visa applicants will need to stay informed of these new requirements, which are expected to result in higher numbers of short term study visa refusals.
What is the Short Term Study Visa?
The Short Term Study route is open to international students studying English language courses in the UK for between 6 and 11 months.
The visa restrictions for this route are strict, and visa holders do not have the right to work or switch to another visa category. However, the Home Office has raised concerns that the route is being misused by individuals with no real intention of studying. In its statement announcing the changes the Home Office says the stricter rules are aimed at preventing abuse of the system and ensuring that only genuine students benefit from the route.
Changes to the Short Term Study Visa
From 9 April 2025, the key updates include stronger powers for caseworkers to refuse applications where there are concerns that the applicant does not have a genuine intention to study or leave the UK after their course ends, along with increased scrutiny on applications, particularly those from high-risk regions or from applicants with weak supporting evidence.
More detailed guidance on the new requirements is expected.
The Home Office states that the changes are designed to prevent students from overstaying after completing their course and beyond their period of leave as a visitor, and to stop individuals using the visa for reasons other than education, such as working illegally.
Further measures are also expected as part of the government’s broader review of the Student and Graduate visa routes.
Impact of the changes
Education providers offering English language courses will need to prepare for the potential impact on recruitment and visa application success rates. Institutions will need to look to strengthen their admission procedures to ensure that all students applying for a Short-Term Study visa can demonstrate genuine study intentions and ensuring international recruitment teams understand the stricter requirements. For example, visa applicants should be informed of the need to provide extensive and comprehensive supporting documentation, such as proof of course enrolment, financial stability and intent to return home after studies, to reduce the risk of visa refusal.
Realistically, however, institutions should prepare for increased visa refusals, in cases where immigration officers suspect that a student may not comply with visa conditions. If refusal rates do increase, and/or there is a resulting decline in international student numbers, some language schools and colleges may see lower enrolment from international students, which could impact institutions reliant on tuition fees from short-term courses.
ELH NEWS AND VIEWS BEFORE 2020
2017 AGENTS VISITED ELH
IN OCTOBER 2017 WE WELCOMED ENGLISH UK STAFF AND AGENTS TO MK
Staff from the British Council, EnglishUK and agents from abroad visited English Language House on 5th October 2017. Chris and Tatiana took them on a tour of the city and the surrounding countryside, showed them around our lovely building and introduced them to students and staff at ELH. The agents looked around the school, observed some lessons and had lunch with ELH students and staff.
It was a beautiful, sunny day and we all had a lovely time. We hope our visitors enjoyed their day with us and will come back again soon.
It was a beautiful, sunny day and we all had a lovely time. We hope our visitors enjoyed their day with us and will come back again soon.
ELH students and staff during a visit by English UK.
2017 ELH WAS AT STUDY WORLD
OUR VISIT TO STUDY WORLD IN SEPTEMBER 2017
Chis and Tatiana went to StudyWorld at the QEII in London in September 2017. They met many interesting people from all over the world and spoke to them about how fabulous it is to live and study in Milton Keynes.
The QEII is an exhibition centre in Westminster and is very close to Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.
Here are a few photos Chris and Tatiana took while they were there:
2016 ELH WAS AT OLYMPIA
English Language House staff spoke at the Language Show, Olympia, London in October 2016
The Language Show took place at Olympia from 14-16 October 2016. Tatiana from English Language House gave a talk on Friday 14th October from 17.00-17.45 about the CELTA teacher training course. She taught a foreign language lesson and answered questions about training to teach English to international students as well as about teaching and learning English in the UK and abroad.
STUDENT VIDEO
ELH students filmed scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in February 2016
In 2016 we celebrated Shakespeare and ELH students filmed scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
ELH students met in February 2016 on Thursday 11th to find out more about Shakespeare and practice lines from his play "Romeo and Juliet". Then on Saturday 13th February 2016, students met for morning coffee and croissants at ELH and after a dress rehearsal in different locations students filmed some scenes from "Romeo and Juliet". The video appeared in China and scenes can also be seen on the EnglishUK website.
You can watch the scenes they filmed here...
ELH students met in February 2016 on Thursday 11th to find out more about Shakespeare and practice lines from his play "Romeo and Juliet". Then on Saturday 13th February 2016, students met for morning coffee and croissants at ELH and after a dress rehearsal in different locations students filmed some scenes from "Romeo and Juliet". The video appeared in China and scenes can also be seen on the EnglishUK website.
You can watch the scenes they filmed here...
STUDENT VIDEOCast:
Romeo - Upper intermediate student Juliet - Upper intermediate student Nurse - Intermediate student Friar and Tybalt - Elementary student Mercutio - Elementary student |
THE ELH VIDEO - SCENES FROM SHAKESPEARE
Video of ELH students playing scenes from Shakespeare.
|
