When choosing the right university course, students need to know that their welfare is a priority to the institution they end up paying money for their higher education.

According to Tom Dyer, spokesman for The Student World, this is particularly pertinent to those who decide to move overseas to go to university.

"Students studying abroad want to know they are going to be looked after, that they are not going to be just another number, that they will be treated in a special way because they are coming internationally and helped to settle in," he pointed out. "By and large universities are pretty good at that process now."

Modern halls of residence, good communication between the student body and tutors and an excellent source of advice about all aspects of uni are all things students will be looking for in their university of choice.

"Students also want assurances about the university's reputation worldwide with graduate recruiters," noted Mr Dyer.

"If the foreign universities are going to come to the UK and target people, then chances are they are going to take on a number of students. I think they are conscious that there are easy things to do."

Meanwhile, the Year Out Group has argued that universities which offer buddy schemes for those studying abroad will find participants get more out of their experience.

The organisation said there are plenty of benefits to enrolling on a degree course overseas, such as learning new language skills, immersing oneself in a completely different culture and making lifelong friends.

"By partnering people up, students coming from abroad find themselves more integrated as they will have someone they can go to and a way to get introduced to other people," the Year Out Group commented.

"When planning to study in a different country it is a good idea to look at which universities offer buddy schemes or similar as this will offer a good insight into the provisions put in place to help foreign students adjust."