LAHORE-The Northern Consortium of the United Kingdom (NCUK) is offering studies for some of the best UK degrees right here in Pakistan, without even the need to travel to the UK for the purpose. Another good news is that students from Pakistan could undertake one, two or three years of their undergraduate studies here, and then transfer to the UK at whatever point they felt comfortable. They would also be at liberty to study at some of the best institutions here in Pakistan and still end up with a UK university degree from one of 11 of the best UK universities. The NCUKs Project Director, Geoff Evans, who formerly served with the British Council in Pakistan, is here to introduce the programmes to school Principals and to students. He is running a series of seminars and finalising arrangements with the local delivery centres here. On Monday, Geoff gave a detailed briefing to educationists from various private institutions at Sukh Chan, Gulberg to tell about various study programmes offered by the Consortium. Introducing the NCUK, Mr Geoff said that it was a consortium of 11 excellent Govt universities that operated in 10 countries to make all these opportunities available. Spreading across the north of the UK, NCUK universities included the prestigious Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield as well as those that specialise in providing employment ready graduates like Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Huddersfield, he explained. The University of Bradford, he added, was also there with very special connections with Pakistan and with none other than Imran Khan as the Chancellor. He said NCUK was coming to Pakistan from September 2010, and it would be working with five prestigious Pakistan universities and colleges to bring all these opportunities to young Pakistani students. These include the University of Lahore, Hamdard university, Riphah International University, CAMS in Karachi and NGS in Lahore. He said that NCUK would serve as a bridge to a UK degree for Pakistani students. He said NCUK was owned by: University of Bradford, University of Huddersfield, Leeds Metropolitan University, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Sheffield. Geoff said intermediate students or those taking O and A levels, could find out more about NCUKs study programmes by contacting him on geoff.evans@ncuk.ac.uk.