Helping students make successful applications to international universities

The University Guys are here to support students in exploring, preparing for and applying to universities all over the world.

As independent university specialists, some people think of us as a ‘top up’ service that goes beyond what your current school might offer and enables you to access world class universities in other countries.

Our team provides one-to-one tutoring and guidance to students and their families, helping them to get a place at the top university of their choice, and making the process of applications clear, manageable and successful.

Our Team

David Hawkins, Founder

One of the world’s top independent college counsellors, David Hawkins MA (Oxford), PGCE specialises in supporting families and students to enter some of the world’s best-ranked universities and, most importantly, helping students to work out which institutions are the best match for them.

David is the only Certified Educational Planner in the United Kingdom, the highest level of accreditation as a college counsellor available and one of only 272 people worldwide to hold this qualification. David was the Head of College Counseling at the International School of Brussels (one of the largest in Europe), and before that was the Head of Careers and a History teacher at Taunton School. David holds memberships in the International Association for College Admissions Counseling and the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

Sheena Mehta, Director

As a former director at IE University, having worked on campus in Madrid and led the international office in London, Sheena has recruited students and organised events across three continents. At The University Guys, Sheena leads relationship work with international universities.

Fluent in Spanish and Gujarati and having served on the Council of International Schools’ Committee for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Sheena has powerful connections with institutions on four continents. A former senior leader in the India-based IC3 movement, she has deep connections to the sub-continent. Having been able to combine both of her favourite subjects, Spanish and Business, at university, her degree facilitated her to go on to live and work in Spain. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, Sheena is passionate about helping students find their perfect fit, having been lucky enough to have found hers.

Holly Smith, Educational Consultant

A former senior international officer at a range of UK universities, Holly has worked for over a decade in international education.

A well-regarded member of organisations such as the International Association for College Admission Counseling, the Higher Education Liaison Officers Association, and the British Universities’ International Liaison Association, Holly has deep connections across the UK university sector. Widely travelled, Holly has advised students on university applications from across the world.

Tom Whittaker, Educational Consultant

Tom’s international education experience spans three countries. Educated in the UK, Tom has worked for two different UK universities as well as the British Council.

For his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, Tom attended university in the United States where he was a recruited athlete, representing his university at both football and athletics. More recently, Tom was the UK and Ireland representative for the University of British Columbia, building relationships with students, families and schools across the British Isles and Continental Europe

Dr James Mills, Educational Consultant

Having studied and taught on both sides of the Atlantic for over three decades, James appreciates first-hand how different educational approaches, locations, and experiences can transform students’ lives.

Originally from Arkansas in the US, James has a liberal arts degree from Hendrix College in the US (where he was also an NCAA DIII athlete in swimming), an MPhil from Cambridge University and a PhD from the London School of Economics in International Relations.

He has taught and advised students on global admissions at four different HMC and GSA schools in the UK, an elite day and boarding school near Boston, Massachusetts, and a high-performing public high school in New Hampshire, supporting students in finding the best fit for their unique talents.

He has also advised his own two children as they charted their very different, global educational paths, which have taken them to four separate countries (the US, UK, France, and Australia) so far.

Emma Reddy, Application Essay Specialist

Emma Reddy MA (Cambridge), PhD (Leicester) graduated from Cambridge with a First class degree in English Literature. She worked as a Corporate lawyer in London for several years before completing a Masters with Distinction in Modern Literature.

While studying for her PhD in American Literature she taught undergraduates and postgraduates at the University of Leicester. She achieved a Distinction in her PGCE from the University of Buckingham and now teaches GCSE, IB and A Level. She has supervised dissertations and helped countless pupils hone their writing skills.

Brandy Fransen, Associate

Brandy Fransen has worked in international higher education and admissions for over sixteen years. She was raised a third-culture kid in Latin America before moving to the United States to attend art school. Brandy has a B.F.A in Graphic Design and worked as a designer before changing careers to international admission.

She attended, and later worked at, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) as their Director of International Admission. During her twelve years at SCAD she led workshops and conducted tutorials titled “How to Prepare a Dynamic Portfolio.” She has conducted hundreds of interviews with students applying to art schools and reviewed hundreds of portfolios. She later moved to Washington D.C., where she worked as Director of Operations at Linden Educational Services, leading educational tours in China and India. In 2015, the sweet song of the South called her back to be near her family, and she began working at beautiful Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, as their Senior Associate Director of International Admission. She also counsels students privately from all over the world on how to best prepare their portfolios for art schools.

Dr Matthew Yeo, Educational Consultant

Matthew Yeo was born in Dublin, grew up in Birmingham, and took his undergraduate degree in Modern History at St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford and Princeton University.

He followed up with an MA and PhD at the University of Manchester in the History of the Book, where he was awarded the university’s highest honour, the Distinguished Achievement Award. He has taught at four HMC schools and is passionate about British and international university admissions. He has advised hundreds of candidates through their application process; his priority is always what is right for that individual student’s holistic education and progression.

Peter Loy, Associate

A Third Culture Kid who graduated high school in Austria, Peter has recently retired from his full-time career in education that spans forty-three years, four continents, thousands of students, and positions ranging from guidance counselor, teacher, administrator, to university admissions.

After teaching middle and high school English and working for six years in university admissions, Peter was then a guidance counselor and administrator in international schools in South America, Asia, and Europe for thirty-three years.

Peter is a recipient of the Council of International Schools’ Peggy Templeton Strong Award for having made “a significant and lasting contribution to the field of international school guidance and counseling.” He is a former member of the Board of Directors for The Hague International Model United Nations and has travelled to more than 55 countries. He is a published author and semi-professional photographer, a former Andean and Alpine mountaineer, a former qualifier for the junior olympics (guess which sport), and an Eagle Scout. Most importantly, he and his awesome wife have been together for more than forty-five years and have two amazing adult sons and a fantastic grandson.

Mark Richards, Associate

BMus (Wales) MMus (King’s, London) Research Fellowship (Cardiff), FRSA, MCCT

Mark won an open scholarship to read music at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, studying with Professor David Wulstan. Mark secured a First and then went on to successfully complete an MMus in Theory and Analysis at King’s College, London, supervised by Professor Arnold Whittall. Further research in the music of Webern continued at Cardiff University.

Mark has tutored at several universities, but his main focus has been school teaching and senior leadership, having latterly closed a sixteen-year service period as Senior Deputy Head at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham. Prior to Queen Anne’s, Mark was Director of Studies and Head of Sixth Form at Saint Martin’s School in Solihull. Mark is a governor of three schools and one university, a trustee of the Society for Music Analysis and the Society for Minimalist Music, and a member of the Society for Musicology in Ireland.

Mark also teaches music to the undergraduate level, is an experienced school inspector, and is an A Level and IB music examiner. He has also written several books and articles associated with A Level Music.

When away from educational activities, Mark enjoys North Devon coastal walks with his wife, Claire and their four golden retrievers, Bertie, Monty, Rufus and Gideon.