Anne-Lise Mty

15, 880. These are the official numbers obtained from the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). They show that 33% more Chinese students have applied for university in the UK this year than the year before. A record! But it does not stop here, there has also been a 9% rise in the number of admissions from international students.

Will New-Zealand reopen the parent visa category? The New-Zealand government could be making a decision in favor of this very soon. Indeed, according to the NZ Herald, there is a backlog of approximately 6000 applications dating back to 2016 when this category was closed. What is a parent visa and where else in the world can you apply for one? Let's find out.

Every year, Knight Frank- a leading global estate agency, residential and commercial property consultancy firm releases its Global Affordability Monitor 2019 at the beginning of February. The Affordable Housing team earmarks 32 “global cities” and analyses the house price to income ratio, the proportion of an income which makes up the rent and also compares the real house price growth to the real income growth. Here are the most affordable “Global cities” shortlisted by Knight Frank.

Behind the blog Londoner in Sydney, is Annabel Symonds. Seven years ago, travel enthusiast Annabel followed the love of her life to Sydney. Since then, the pair have travelled the world, taken Londoner in Sydney to new heights and attempted to move back to England. Annabel's blog has been featured in the Top 25 Expat blogs in the World by Feedspot and Top 10 Australia Expat blog by International Money Transfers. She tells us all about her thrilling expat life in the Land Down Under!

The American professional etiquette bears no secret for Gilbert Croze. Building on his thirty years experience in professional dealings, the French man, who started as an engineer, has even co-written a book on this subject. After a training course at Stanford, Gilbert Croze was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Matra Aerospace Inc. in Washington. Back in France, he specialises in intercultural management and has trained executives from some of the most prominent French companies.

The change was announced last december by the American government. Holders of a masters degree from an American institution are more likely to get a work permit than other applicants. This would mean, as the number of H-1B on offer is capped at 85,000, that other applicants would have lower chances of seeing their H-1B applications accepted.

The Japanese government is targeting Fourteen industries. Indeed, in December last year, the government has announced a series of measures designed to attract skilled workers to cater to the shortage in 14 sectors in Japan. By 2024, the government hopes to have welcomed 340, 000 foreign workers in these sectors. Starting April this year, a new visa category will be enforced, and skill tests will be carried out on candidates for the nursing, restaurant and construction sectors. The decision comes after the Japanese government have been trying for years now to find a solution for labour shortages resulting from the declining population.

It's official. Starting this month, according to the Government Portal of the country, the United Arab Emirates are accepting applications for 10-year and 5- year residence visas. The decision was validated by the UAE Cabinet in November 2018, and honorary visas have already been assigned 20 academics who are already living and working in the UAE. The two new visa categories were set up in an attempt to attract and retain highly skilled individuals to the UAE. Entrepreneurs, investors, highly specialised talents and even outstanding students will be eligible for these 10-year and 5-year visas. But what, exactly, does it take to be able to bag yourself a long-term residency permit in the UAE? For the next five years there will need to be:

Learn a foreign language, make friends from all around the world, get a better quality education or even getting to know a new culture. Studying abroad can be an incredible adventure. And one that most of us dream about. But, it is -somewhat mistakenly- believed to be expensive. Quality education does not always mean you have to splash the cash! Not even (or especially) if you want to study abroad.  If you have always wanted to study abroad, but are not quite sure whether you will be able to afford it, here is a list of the top 10 countries where you could study. The list was compiled by QS Top Universities.

You're looking to go on a new business venture abroad, but you cannot quite seem to decide on where would be appropriate? If you're ready to invest, but you are not quite sure where: have you thought about the African continent? Africa is booming with activity right now, and, experts say, it is set to continue growing. Here are the countries you should consider according to the South-African investment bank, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), Top 10. The parameters established are market activity and operating environment.

So, you're a big city kind of person and you love the fast-paced mornings and the fast-food lunches. You cannot get enough of the busy after-work pub stops with the colleagues or the golden hour over the skyline. But big cities can also be hectic and stressful. So before you decide on your next destination, it's important you consider health, sports and wellness amenities... Take a look at the list at the world's healthiest cities according to a study by Travel Supermarket.

Sunshine makes everything better, doesn't it? You might be seeking to finally make that big move this year but you have not decided yet where you are headed to, or you have been offered an opportunity that you are still considering but the weather is crucial to you. You like the feel of the sun on your skin, and sunny weather never fails to put you in a good mood. This list is made for you. These are the 10 cities with the best sunlight hours...

Located in Skåne county in the south of Sweden, Malmö is one of Scandinavia's first heavily industrialised cities which has developed greatly during the past era — especially in terms of infrastructure and architecture. Now a post-industrial, culturally diverse and sustainable destination, Malmö is Sweden's third largest city. Its population of 333,633 comprises people from over 170 different countries, speaking more than 150 different languages. Thanks to its university, Malmö also attracts a younger crowd: currently almost half of the city's population is younger than 35 years old. While the diverse environment makes it very easy for expats to navigate the labour market, you should keep in mind the city's high unemployment rate.

Ever wondered how expensive it is to live in some of the most desirable European countries? Europe is home to a wealth of popular expat destinations for both EU citizens and those coming from further afield, but it can be hard to know just how much things like accommodation and transportation will cost. Below we present the average cost of living in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy, and Spain.