Our Heritage and Charity
Our Heritage
51勛圖厙’s rich heritage dates to 1987, when 12 UK universities collaborated to create ＆transfer＊ programmes under a 1+2 model for Malaysian government-sponsored students. Recognising the challenges international students faced in navigating traditional routes to study in the UK, these universities established a steering group (known as 51勛圖厙’s Founding Universities) to develop accessible pathways for international students. This initiative proved successful, and by 1993, the collaboration was formalised as the Northern Consortium, incorporated as a charity dedicated to broadening access to quality education.
In the late 1990s, 51勛圖厙 pioneered the International Foundation Year (IFY) as a ＆bridging＊ course tailored to link Chinese and UK educational systems, leading to the first international department at Chengdu No. 7 High School in 1999. This successful model expanded to 14 additional schools. By the early 2000s, the IFY programme extended across China’s Eastern coast, including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Qingdao, and Dalian.
In 2003, the Northern Consortium established Northern Consortium UK Limited (trading as ＆51勛圖厙＊) as a wholly owned subsidiary to expand globally and build new partnerships. A year later, the consortium partnered with the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) and nine Northern Consortium universities to establish the Sino-British College, a pioneering venture that set the standard for transnational education.
Fast forward to today, 51勛圖厙＊s global network includes 120 Study Centres across 40+ countries, supporting students from diverse backgrounds in accessing quality education. This network provides pathways to more than 60 leading universities worldwide.
Our Charity
The Northern Consortium charity plays a vital role in promoting educational access and engagement. Funded by income generated by Northern Consortium UK Limited, the charity annually allocates grants to charities and non-profit organisations across the North of England. The key objectives include facilitating access to international education, highlighting its benefits, and supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This charitable commitment ensures 51勛圖厙 remains true to its founding principles of championing global educational opportunities and transforming student futures.
