Mehdi Hassan

Mehdi wanted to study hospitality management in Europe and work in hotel operations. School results were below the direct entry threshold for the degrees of interest.

Two agencies had already told Mehdi that direct entry was possible. It was not, and an application on that basis would have been rejected at a cost of both fees and a full intake cycle.

Budget was also tight, which ruled out the higher-tuition institutions where a stronger academic profile might have compensated.

We assessed the transcript against each institution's published entry criteria and said plainly that direct entry was not available at the target grades — and why.

We then presented the foundation route as what it is: one additional year, a lower total annual cost than the alternatives, and guaranteed progression on meeting the published threshold. We were explicit that this adds a year rather than presenting it as a shortcut.

We also matched the choice to budget, selecting an institution at the lower end of the Cyprus tuition range where the placement component was strong.

The foundation application was submitted in October for a January start and the offer arrived within two weeks. The entry permit was applied for in November and approved in December.

Mehdi completed the foundation year with a grade average above the progression threshold and moved into year one of the degree the following September.

Mehdi is now in the second year of the hospitality and tourism management degree in Larnaca, having completed a first placement with a coastal resort.