Rachit Patel, aged 19 and from Mumbai in India began his studies on the Art and Design Foundation programme at the College. The significant milestone was marked with a celebration that saw him presented with a £1,000 bursary to help towards his studies and all those present enjoyed a slice of a specially-commissioned cake.

Rachit said: “I am deeply honoured to be the 1,000th student to enrol at BCUIC and this wonderful bursary is a real help toward my education. Coming to study here in the UK was something I had always wanted to do and I was really excited to be here, but I never expected I would be making history on my first day!

“When researching places to study in the UK, I fell in love with Birmingham online and I chose BCUIC specifically because of the incredible service I receieved from its admissions team. Now I can’t wait to further my education here at BCUIC in these beautiful surroundings, before I progress on to the BA (Hons) Media and Communication undergraduate degree at Birmingham City University in September.”

Opened less than five years ago, BCUIC provides undergraduate and postgraduate pathways to Birmingham City University for international students who do not meet the University’s direct entry requirements – enabling them to progress on to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider with the knowledge and resources of staff from more than 35 different colleges and campuses worldwide.

Based close to the world-famous Cadbury’s chocolate factory in Birmingham’s Bournville suburb – described as one of the nicest places to live in Britain (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2003) – and bordering the area’s iconic Village Green – which itself has been declared as one of the best green spaces in the country (Green Flag Award 2017) – BCUIC is also only a few miles from the vibrant centre of one of the UK’s most diverse cities.

The College provides pathways to over 130 undergraduate and postgraduate courses at Birmingham City University, with a 95 per cent successful progression rate. Cheryl Badhams, College Principal, Birmingham City University International College, said: “We are thrilled to have reached this milestone of enrolling 1,000 students – and in under five years is a real achievement!

“I believe our success is owing to the continued hard work of our dedicated team of academic and support staff, who work together to provide a safe and supportive learning environment to international students, within our unique Bournville campus. In summer 2017 we were proud to see our very first cohort of students graduate, four years after enrolling with us in 2013. We are delighted to have come full circle, and look forward to many more happy graduations in the years to come!”

23-year-old Kathy-Zöe Baira, from Kwekwe, a city in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province was one of the first students to enrol at BCUIC in September 2013. She studied on the Undergraduate Pathway in Law at BCUIC, before embarking on the LLB Law (Hons) degree at Birmingham City University, followed by the latter’s LLM Legal Practice course.

She commented: “BCUIC was not only just a college, but a family and community that developed my skills, built my academic and personal confidence, and also equipped me with all the necessary skills required for university. The staff’s unwavering support towards academic issues and international students is something I will forever be grateful for. I am proud to have attended such an esteemed college

“Since completing my undergraduate degree, I continue to work within the University, improving the experience for prospective students, sharing my journey with them, as well as supporting them through the application process.”