About being a student

Support

While we fully respect and support your desire to live independently during your time as a student; we also appreciate the value of pastoral support we offer to set you on your way. This can help alleviate any stresses and strains that accompany living and studying abroad, and is available long before you even arrive in the United Kingdom. Our staff will be on hand around-the-clock to offer you appropriate support and guidance, in your native language.

Welfare care

Our advisors get to know each student personally, showing care and consideration for his/her individual needs. Regular monitoring of a student’s welfare and development will be carried out to ensure student and parental ‘peace of mind’. Emergency on-hand support is available 24 hours daily, offered by knowledgeable former and current students who can best understand and offer advice.

Guidance provision

In addition to welfare care, we help guide a student’s professional and educational development. During his/her studies – we can offer advice on how to make the most of time abroad as well to ensure that parents receive regular progress updates. On completion of studies, we provide ongoing career guidance to students; helping to organise both work placements as well as interviews.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all students; regardless of background, race, age, gender or ability. We welcome student enquiries and would be happy to address any issues/concerns you may have. In partnership with specialist assistance departments, we aim to break down barriers to study and life at university.

We offer two student support packages for you to choose from:-

• Virtus University Support Package
• Virtus University & Career Support Package

About the City of Plymouth

Location

The City of Plymouth lies within the South Western county of Devon, England. Approximately 190 miles/310 kilometres to the West of London, Plymouth is home to in excess of 250,000 residents (15th largest city in England) and sits on the coastline of the English Channel. It is served well by road (close links to the national M5 motorway), rail, sea (daily ferries to European destinations) and air (both Exeter and Plymouth Airports) – London is about 3 ½ hours by car (2 ¾ hours by train). Close to the English Riviera of Torbay (1 hour to the South East) and the picturesque regional Capital city of Exeter (45 minutes to the East) in Devon, and the stunning North Atlantic coastline of Cornwall to the West.

The University of Plymouth is the 9th largest University in England. Founded in 1992, it is home to over 30,000 students and over 3,000 staff. Offering a wide range of educational fields, its proximity to both coast and country serves it well from both an academic and social perspective.

Placement Opportunities

Local employment opportunities are plentiful; with Plymouth’s Devonport dockyard still considered the largest operational naval yard in Western Europe, Tamar Science Park the fastest growing Science park in the United Kingdom, and thanks to the Plymouth 2020 project – an extensive urban redevelopment scheme which includes the 60,800m² Drake Circus Retail Mall in the City Centre.

Whether you are seeking the thrills of the dry-ski slope, rugby, football or basketball – Plymouth is a city packed full of high-energy activities.

Weather

Favouring the warmer air drawn north from continental Europe; SW England’s temperate climate is considered the best in the British Isles. During the summer months, typical temperatures reach 21°C/69°F and typically no lower than 3°C/38°F during the winter. Temperature fluctuations occur frequently in the region, so don’t be surprised to find yourself wearing a jumper on a typical Summer’s day and a T-shirt in the Autumn!

For sports, culture, entertainment, dining and history – Plymouth is an excellent place to both study and live.

Available courses

Virtus deliver university courses in a wide range of fields to suit your educational needs. Within each category, there are specific degree/postgraduate courses available for you to choose from: -

• Business (@ Plymouth)
• Marketing (@ Plymouth)
• Media (@ Plymouth)
• Economics (@ Plymouth)
• Accounting, Banking & Finance (@ Plymouth)
• Management (@ Plymouth)
• Engineering (@ Plymouth)
• Mathematics (@ Plymouth)
• Biochemistry

Please refer to the university linked pages which will offer additional information on specific courses within each field.

Virtus Undergraduate Timetable

Our courses are designed to complement the existing semester timetables at British Universities, and coincide with seasonal holidays and festive celebrations in the United Kingdom. These dates are a rough guide as they vary for each academic year – with accurate dates provided to the student upon successful completion of the application process.

Virtus Pre-course Student Programme dates

As detailed in the minimum requirements section, students who required additional English language support teaching will be required to attend for a duration which precedes the start of the Undergraduate academic year. The duration of the course will be measured against the IELTS score.

*Please note – there is a window of opportunity to re-sit (if necessary) pre course examinations prior to the start of the Undergraduate timetable.*