Unfortunately, Ziad did not meet requirements to start at City this September. While he got the 7.5 he needed overall in his IELTS (English test for foreign students), he did not meet the criterion on the writing part of the test, which was 6.5: he only got 6. However, as a result of everyone's generous donations we paid the 500 GBP deposit and this means he is automatically enrolled for next year.

This gives him 12 months to get his writing better. The IELTS costs 150 GBP a go, and he's done it twice already -- studying seems to be an expensive business and you can see why many refugees can't afford it. Hang in there Ziad!