The 2010/ 2011 school year is right upon us, and for international students it's time to make sure you have purchased a proper insurance plan and can show proof of health insurance coverage to your school.

Most schools will offer you an international student health insurance plan, which can be costly and may not provide you with the benefits you want - so take the opportunity to save money and purchase a plan where you have the option to make sure it provides everything you need.

The Student Secure plan now comes in 3 plan levels; Smart, Budget and Select - so no matter what your requirements we should have a plan to fit your needs and save you money!

In the USA pricing starts at just:

Compare all your plan options online and find out more today!

http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student-health-insurance/

The hugely popular "Concierge Service" has now been made available to students who are looking to improve their English as a Second Language. The ESL Directory now offers the concierge service for students from all around the world - and the service is totally free!

Simply submit your details and then let the ESL Concierge Service do the work for you! Your information will be shared with ESL schools that are interested in you, and those schools may contact you directly with information about their campus and programs. We have partnerships with ESL schools and programs all over the world who are looking to recruit international students - and we will match you directly with those schools.

Crackdowns on International Education Around the World

International education is booming, as more and more students embrace the benefits of studying in another country. Anytime there is explosive growth in an industry, there are growing pains, and recently there have been several high-profile problems and reactions in international education around the world.

Centenary College is closing down their international programs in Beijing, Shanghai and Taiwan, and offering students the option of either a full refund or taking a comprehensive test, in the aftermath of an epidemic of cheating that the school felt left it with no other legitimate options, according to a story in the USA Today online.

"It's not uncommon for colleges to discontinue academic programs overseas for financial reasons. But Centenary College, in New Jersey, is shutting down an M.B.A. program in Asia to contain a plagiarism epidemic. About 400 students are currently enrolled in the program at locations in Beijing, Shanghai and Taiwan."

Read the rest of the story in the USA Today.

The UK is cracking down on schools catering to international students, requiring additional certification to allow schools to admit international students, and now requiring English language certification for university programs. The new requirements will not apply to English language programs, but for university admissions it will be an additional step for many international students. Read the full story in the Guardian.

And in Australia, a spate of violence directed towards international students has dominated headlines for months, along with proposed counter-measures. Most recently, Australia has made changes to its immigration policy, which will result in fewer international students being able to stay in Australia after they have finished their studies. Within the international education community in Australia, there is great concern that the new policy will deter students from coming - read the full story in Reportage Online.