Work and study with OPUS                                     other offers of study and paid work 
                                                                                                                

COURSES AND DATES OF THE PROGRAMME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM in 2011

OPUS English UK (For EU/EEA Passport Holders)

Improve your English speaking, listening, writing and reading skills, gain customer service skills and acquire language for the workplace during a part-time or full-time paid work placement.

Overview:
5 months of Vacation English and a guaranteed job placement of up to 4 months of part-time/full-time paid work
6 months of Vacation English and a guaranteed job placement of up to 5 months of part-time/full-time paid work
9 months of Vacation English and a guaranteed job placement of up to 8 months of part-time/full-time paid work

Course Structure: 20 lessons of 45 minutes per week - (15 hours) 

Recommended ages: 18 - 30

Minimum rates of pay per hour: GBP 4.83 (age 18-21), GBP 5.80 (age 22+) from October last year

Minimum English level: Lower Intermediate with good spoken English

Locations: London

Exam preparation (IELTS/TOEIC/TOEFL/Cambridge) classes are also available dependent on location. Please indicate on your contact form if this is of interest to you. 
 

OPUS Euro Special (For EU/EEA Passport Holders)

Work for 26 weeks in a paid hospitality or retail job and study English for 6 weeks

Overview: Minimum 6-week Vacation or Intensive English + a guaranteed 26 week paid job

Vacation English Course Structure: 20 lessons of 45 minutes per week - (15 hours)

Intensive English Course Structure: 28 lessons/week (including 8 electives) + 7 Structured Study Sessions
(Lessons are 45 minutes) - 21 hours of lessons + 5 hours 25 minutes of Structured Study

Recommended ages: 18 - 30

Minimum rates of pay per hour: GBP 4.83 (age 18-21), GBP 5.80 (age 22+) from October last year

Minimum English level: Lower Intermediate with good spoken English (Intermediate level for business course)

Locations: London
 

OPUS Euro Exam Special (For EU/EEA Passport Holders)

Take an IELTS Exam Preparation course and get a full time placement in paid work for 26 weeks.

Overview: Minimum 10-week IELTS Exam course + work placement

IELTS Supplementary Preparation Course Structure: 28 lessons of IELTS preparation per week + 7 sessions of structured study. (Lessons are 45 min)

IELTS Intensive Preparation Course Structure: 20 lessons of General English + 8 lessons of IELTS preparation + 7 sessions of structured study. (Lessons are 45 min)

Recommended ages: 18 - 30

Minimum rates of pay per hour: GBP 4.83 (age 18-21), GBP 5.80 (age 22+) from October last year

Minimum English level: Intermediate with good spoken English.

Locations: London

Start dates 2011: Every Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday)
 

OPUS Gatwick Airport Euro Summer (For EU/EEA Passport Holders)

Overview: Minimum 3-week Vacation English or Intensive English + 8 weeks guaranteed paid job in hospitality at Gatwick Airport

Vacation English Course Structure: 20 lessons of 45 minutes per week - (15 hours)

Intensive English Course Structure: 28 lessons/week (including 8 electives) + 7 Structured Study Sessions
(Lessons are 45 minutes) - 21hours of lessons + 5 hours 25 minutes of Structured Study

Recommended ages: 18 - 30

Minimum rates of pay per hour: GBP 4.83 (age 18-21), GBP 5.80 (age 22+) from October last year

Minimum English level: Intermediate with good spoken English and 6 months minimum previous work experience required.

Locations: London

APPLICATION PROCESS:
- Pre-level test,
- OPUS application form with additional course name added to it,
- CV,
- 2 photos - face and full length shots,
- Telephone interiew,
- Nominee form and copy of passport to be submitted to employer for referencing.

APPLICANT PROFILE:
- Previous customer service work experience required (minimum 6 months),
- Good spoken English - Intermediate+,
- Friendly, flexible and hard working.

SAMPLE JOBS:
- Door hosts,
- Baristas,
- Food preparation assistants,
- Table clearers,
- Kitchen porter.

SAMPLE EMPLOYERS:
- Eat,
- Garfunkels,
- Shake-A-Lua,
- Yo Sushi.

SAMPLE SHIFTS:
- 3am – 12pm,
- 7am – 3pm.

All staff get a taxi service to pick them up if they do an early shift ex 3am start. Students can typically work 10 hour shifts, when very busy.

PACKAGE PRICE:
Twin Room
Vacation English = £2107 (960GBP incl 375GBP placement fee),
Intensive English = £2272 (1125GBP incl 375GBP placement fee).

Single Room
Vacation English = £2239,
Intensive English= £2404. 

These would include course fee, accommodation, placement fee and a registration fee for the online security test that all students would be required to take to work at Gatwick.

DRESS CODE:
- Black trousers, flat black shoes,
- No jewellery(including body piercings),
- No visible tattoos/piercings.

REFERENCING:
- All applicants are required to complete this immediately after booking the programme,
- Employment/education references for the past 5 years are required including Elementary/High School,
- Copy of passport to be submitted with nominee form,
- Criminal records check must be conducted in their country and a translated copy of it must be submitted to Gatwick prior to their arrival,
- Reference form to be completed as soon as booking is confirmed. Students must submit 2 references –
1) Character reference from a friend to confirm that they are honest and trustworthy,
2) Employer/School reference.

ONLINE SECURITY TEST: To be completed on arrival in UK.

BANK ACCOUNTS: For payments, it would be important that students ensure they have an international bank account, where they could open a sterling account prior to arrival in London. This would enable them to receive payments, which would also be by bank transfer. Our employer would need the following information in order to pay our students:
Sort Code: 6 digit number,
Account number: 8 digit number,
Iban code.

CONTRACTS: 30 hour contracts offered with opportunity for overtime.

EMPLOYER INDUCTION: Held on Day 1. To include online security test, which takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

PAYMENTS: Salary paid every 2 weeks by bank transfer.

WORK ROTA:
Provided 2 – 4 days in advance of following week.
Students to have 2 days off per week.

BREAKS:
One 15 minute break.
Lunch break 30 minutes.

FOOD: One meal included per shift.

EARNINGS

You may work in Australia, New Zealand and Canada in the OPUS programme. The students may work up to 20 hours a week during the semester and up to 40 hours a week during holidays. Those who have holiday visa with work permission can work as many hours as they wish.  

If you take into account the number of hours that you are allowed to work and the minimal quote you will see that the earnings cover the costs of the study. You just need to remember about the costs of accommodation and pocket money. 

Minimal quotes per hour:

UK (GBP): 4,60 / 5.52
Ireland (EUR): 8.30
New Zealand (NZD): 10.00
Perth (AUD): 9.00
Sydney (AUD): 10.00

NZD - New Zealand dollars
AUD - Australian dollars