UKCISA Grants scheme 2015-19

Last modified: 07 October 2022

UKCISA Grants scheme for pilot projects and research ran between 2015-19. The aims were:

Pilot projects
To encourage innovation, and develop and share examples of best practice in international student support.
Research
To enhance our understanding of the needs and/or experience of international students studying in the UK.

You can view the entire list of 59 pilot projects and research grants awarded between 2015-19 and their reports below.

2018-19 Pilot projects reports

2017-18 Pilot projects reports

Institution	Project title	Outline of project	Year	Report
Bangor University	Mindfulness for international students	A dedicated eight-week mindfulness course for international students.	2017-18	Read report
Bridgend College	This Is Me	Develop opportunities such as guest lectures for international learners to share cultural and religious experiences with other learners.	2017-18	Read report
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance	Healthy body, healthy mind. Hands-on nutrition for international students.	Delivering workshops on nutrition, meal planning and budgeting. With opportunities for students to share food.	2017-18	Read report
University of Reading	The international student food project	Develop a ‘food induction toolkit’ – an online resource to support international students in adjusting to shopping, cooking and eating in the UK.	2017-18	Read report
Greenwich University	Enriching international students’ understanding of critical thinking and problem solving skills through gamification	Produce an e-learning resource to help international students to understand and improve skills needed for UK HE. Focus on 1st year undergraduate students.	2017-18	Read report
University of Bedfordshire	Culturally informed assessments toolkit (CIAT)	Integrating intercultural teaching and learning practices with the assessment process.	2017-18	Read report
University of Strathclyde Highly Commended in the Paul Webley Award 2016	Supporting the engagement and experience of international students in group-work activities	Students explore group work activities using Lego Serious Play.	2017-18	Read report
University of Sussex	Supporting international doctoral student writing	Designing, running and evaluating a writing group for international students at writing-up stage of PhD study and creating a pedagogical toolkit.	2017-18	Read report
Canterbury Christ Church University	Career Start Canterbury	Preparing international students for the global workplace through sustainable ‘job ready’ activities, civic service and professional networking. Involves links with local Rotary Club.	2017-18	Read report
University of Portsmouth	Generating international student internship opportunities with local SMEs	Internship opportunities linking with local advisers from the Dept of International Trade (UKTI).	2017-18	Read report
University of Sheffield	Preparing for Placement	Developing a cultural toolkit to improve the experience of both international students and placement providers.	2017-18	Read report
University of Essex	Using Design Thinking to Enhance the International Student Experience and Their Understanding of Employability	A series of workshops underpinned by the principles of ‘Design Thinking’ (DT). This applies ideas developed by Stanford University to produce an innovative teaching method applicable to any subject that involves uncertainty, e.g. employability and the overall international student experience.	2017-18	Read report

2016-17 Pilot projects reports

Institution	Project title	Outline of project	Year	Report
Edinburgh College Highly Commended in our Paul Webley Award 2017	Volunteer for Success	Generating year-round volunteering opportunities for FE students with a work prohibition.	2016-17	Read report
Nottingham Trent University Highly Commended in our Paul Webley Award 2017	Global Voices in science	International students contribute to curriculum development on subjects relating to their home country and/or culture.	2016-17	Read report
University of Glasgow QMU	Language Café	Bringing together both native and non-native speakers to facilitate conversation and cultural exchange.	2016-17	Read report
Heriot-Watt University	Developing an online representation training tool for global students	An interactive online tool for class representatives studying at Heriot-Watt University outside the UK.	2016-17	Read report
Manchester Student Homes, Manchester University, and Manchester Metropolitan University	Manchester international student safety campaign	A year-long programme to develop a student safety guide, video and events on student safety.	2016-17	Read report
University of Sheffield	Exploring the use of ‘WeChat’ as a social media tool to engage Chinese students	Promoting student support services for Chinese students, with a focus on immigration, integration and careers service through ‘WeChat’.	2016-17	Read report
University of Sunderland	‘Bounce Back’: increasing access for international students to student wellbeing services	A programme to enhance the emotional and mental wellbeing of international students and increase the number of international students accessing support for their mental health.	2016-17	Read report
York St John University	Grassroots internationalisation created by students for students	A series of student-created activities to inspire internationalisation and peer-engagement via the Global Campus project.	2016-17	Read report
University of Dundee	International student web video information	A series of short videos for international students to aid transition to life in the UK.	2016-17	Read report
Durham University	International students as curriculum advisers for academic writing courses	Develop a method of creating effective staff-student partnerships to enable international students to contribute to the improvement of academic writing courses.	2016-17	Read report
Liverpool Hope University	International academic writing boot-camp	Helping international postgraduate students to understand academic expectations and conventions of UK universities.	2016-17	Read report
Queens University Belfast	Supporting the academic and cultural challenges facing international students studying biosciences	Identifies the unique academic and cultural challenges facing culturally and linguistically diverse students and raise awareness among teaching staff, with a focus on biosciences students.	2016-17	Read report
Royal Northern College of Music	Engagement with learning for international students	A course to introduce students to the conservatoire framework of study by building on the students’ educational experience in their own country.	2016-17	Read report

2015-16 Pilot projects reports

Institution	Project title	Outline of project	Year	Report
Sheffield Hallam University Winner of the Paul Webley Award 2016 Shortlisted for Outstanding Student Support Award by Times Higher Education 2017	International student sexual health	Toolkit for running a successful sexual health campaign for international students in higher and further education.	2015-16	Read report
University of Northampton	Team-based learning (TBL)	Producing a framework for TBL for Masters international students; improving results, engagement and experience for students.	2015-16	Read report
Midlands Universities	Developing your Global Career – a week of virtual employability events	A series of activities to prepare students for global employment.	2015-16	Read report
Newcastle College	Global Society	Developing a model of an international society in further education.	2015-16	Read report
University of Bradford Students' Union	Culture in the community	International students take cultural activities and performances into the local community.	2015-16	Read report
University of Sussex	‘Freshers of ‘15’: student perspectives	Tracking international students’ cultural adaptation to the UK through focus groups, blogs, vlogs and open forums.	2015-16	Read report
University of Worcester	Student-led friendship groups	UK and international students’ group buddy scheme.	2015-16	Read report
Heriot-Watt University	International student transfer and transition	Developing a suite of resources to support moves from overseas campuses (in Dubai and Malaysia) to Heriot-Watt.	2015-16	Read report
Keele University Students' Union	Creating a rolling induction programme for international students	UK and international students develop a programme for induction at any time.	2015-16	Read report
Northumbria University	Getting it right first time: an entry clearance toolkit for overseas staff	An online training module for staff advising potential international students on the entry clearance requirements of their visa applications. Primarily for overseas staff and agents.	2015-16	Read report
Keele University	The Skills4Keele Learning Resources	Online and face-to-face learning resources to aid transitional issues faced by international students.	2015-16	Read report
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine	Enhancing learning experience for international students	Developing pre-sessional online learning support for basic IT skills.	2015-16	Read report

Institution	Research title	Year	Report
University of Sheffield, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow, Heriot Watt University	Mental health and wellbeing of international doctoral students in the UK: An investigation of supervisors' understanding and existing support provision	2018-19	Read report
Ulster University, Brighton University, University of Edinburgh	Creating a Community of Practice for International Students: The Role of Academic Peer Learning in Supporting their Transition and Integration into Higher Education	2018-19	Read report
University of Warwick, University of East Anglia, University of Leicester, Loughborough University	Understanding and developing implementable best-practice in the design of academic integrity policies for international students studying in the UK	2018-19	Read report
University of Plymouth	Examining the efficacy of a buddy programme for international students' integration, language ability and academic performance	2018-19	Read report
Cardiff University	Evaluating the needs of international students who are parents at Cardiff- with the aim to lead future practice of support	2018-19	Read report
University of Southampton	International students working in group and project-based activities at university	2018-19	Read report

Institution	Research title	Year	Report
The University of Edinburgh	Mental health and wellbeing of global access students.	2017-18	Read report
University of Stirling Students’ Union	The impact of Brexit on the international student experience at Stirling.	2017-18	Read report
University of Sussex	An ethnographic examination with research of the experience of international students living in the private rented sector to guide further practice.	2017-18	Read report
The Open University (in collaboration with Dundee University) Winner of the Paul Webley Award 2018	STRIDE: Social Transition Research into International Doctoral Experiences	2017-18	Read report
University of Kent (in collaboration with six university partners)	Pathways to success – critical resources and approaches for academic success, as identified by the experiences of international pathways students, their educators and counsellors.	2017-18	Read report
University of Plymouth	International students’ perceptions of personal tutoring – are we hitting the mark?	2017-18	Read report

Institution	Research title	Year	Report
Manchester Metropolitan University Winner of Paul Webley Award 2017	Between expectations and lived experiences: recruitment strategies and their impact on international students’ academic and social experiences in UK HE.	2016-17	Read report
Lincoln University Students’ Union	Are students’ union’s activities, events and opportunities accessible and used by international students?	2016-17	Read report
The University of Glasgow	Addressing the needs of international summer school students: implications for universities of the ‘quiet revolution’ in short-term international experiences.	2016-17	Read report
Sheffield Hallam University	Mobilising family support: implications for the academic resilience of international students.	2016-17	Read report

2015-16 Research reports

Institution	Research title	Year	Report
Plymouth University Highly Commended in the Paul Webley Award 2016	Reaching out to enhance the wellbeing of international students. Are university counselling & wellbeing services accessible and inclusive?	2015-16	Read report
Bournemouth University	Employment for international students whilst studying in the UK.	2015-16	Read report
University of Brighton	Exploring first year international undergraduates’ experiences in four disciplines: influences of university and international partner college pedagogy and support practices.	2015-16	Read report
University of York	Evaluating intercultural competency strategies within college communities.	2015-16	Read report

About UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is the UK's national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them.

Useful links

UKCISA is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Company Number 4507287) and a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity Number 1095294). Its registered office is at Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HQ