Bermudian students planning to further their education abroad have had the chance to check out potential universities without leaving the Island.

Yesterday more than 1,200 senior secondary students attended the seventh annual College and University Fair at the Princess Hotel.

Representatives from 41 institutions, based in the US, Canada and the UK, were on hand to offer advice to CedarBridge and Berkeley Institute students about the various degree courses on offer, as well as providing information on scholarships and the all-important social aspects of college life.

And last night parents got their chance to find out more about where their children should go to study with a special open evening for parents.

Kelley Chunn, spokeswoman for Island College Fairs, the company that organised the event, said: "It can be defined as one-stop shopping where parents or students considering their options have a chance to see a range of overseas schools rather than spend time and money identifying those schools and then travelling overseas to see them.

"We have 41 different schools here and meet them and talk about scholarships and courses. People can learn about a combination of the academic side and also what a college has to offer culturally. For example, do you want to go to college in Canada or the US? Where would you feel more comfortable? Do you want to live in a small town or more of an urban area? These are the things that should be considered as well as questions about curriculum.

"There's also competition amongst the colleges to recruit the best students.

I think Bermudian students have got a good reputation -- they don't create a lot of problems and seem to be able to adjust very early on.'' Fair coordinator Ron Ancrum added: "We've had a very good turnout this year and we have seen about 1,200 students from the Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge.

"Not everyone wants to go to Bermuda College and we are trying to provide them with an option and exposing them to other opportunities -- it gives the students a chance to find out where the best place is to go for them.'' Delegates will spend this morning meeting pupils from the Island's private secondary schools before going on to visit Bermuda College students this afternoon.

COLLEGE QUEST -- Berkeley Institute student Dereck Anderson checks out foreign universities at yesterday's College Fair.

COLLEGES NIVERSITIES EDC