Top 10 questions about college: we've got the answers

1. Am I 'too old' for college?

Absolutely not! Anyone aged 16 or over can apply to study full-time or part-time vocational courses - there is no upper age limit. In fact, we educate 1000's of mature students each year. We offer a wide variety of options for everyone, regardless of age or prior qualifications.

Take a look at our Adult and Professional courses page

2. Is it too late to apply for this September?

No, you still have time to join us! If you haven't yet secured a spot for September, or if you've applied elsewhere and reconsidered, you can still apply.

Find out more about applying here

3. I'm concerned about not getting the GCSE grades required for the course I've applied for, and I'm wondering if this means I can't attend college in September?

Remember, if your GCSE results don't meet your expectations, don't worry, we still have options for you - come along and speak to us at an enrolment event. You even have the option to retake your GCSEs with us if you wish.

4. Can I get into university with a vocational course instead of A-levels?

You can! Our Level 3 vocational courses are equivalent to A-levels and are recognised by universities as part of their entry requirements. These courses also carry UCAS Tariff points. What makes us unique are the industry-standard facilities we offer to enhance your learning and provide you with the practical experience you need.

If you have a specific university or course in mind, we recommend doing some research to understand their entry requirements. This will help you make an informed decision about which course to study with us.

5. I'll be in Year 11 in September - is it too early to be thinking about my options?

It's never too early to start planning for your future, and the decision truly lies with you. Our first Open Evening for September 2024 entry is on 5 October 2023:

Register your place at our Open Evening

6. Do you offer degrees?

Yes we do! Housed in our multi-million pound state-of-the-art building, our University Centre is the dedicated place for all of our 400+ degree-level students studying with us. For those not quite ready for a degree, many of our courses offer an Optional Integrated Foundation Entry route. We also have a range of Access to Higher Education courses.

Find out more about studying a degree-level course

7. I don't have the right qualifications to study a degree-level course, can you help?

We absolutely can. Many of our courses offer an Optional Integrated Foundation Entry route, which is a 1 year course to lead up to degree-level study. We also have a range of Access to Higher Education courses that are designed for those aged 19+ who want to go to university.

Find out about our Optional Integrated Foundation Entry routes

8. I'm a little anxious about starting college, what support do you offer?

Starting at College or University is full of new opportunities and challenges. That's why we're here to help you every step of the way with an expert team who can advise and support you with careers advice, financial support, learning support, health and wellbeing, counselling and any other personal issues you may be facing.

If you start a College course with us, you'll be assigned your very own 'Progress Coach'. They will support you if you're experiencing problems that may affect your studies with us. Your Progress Coach will work with you to ensure that you get the help and support you need while you are at College.

For degree-level students, we have a team of Personal Development Coach (PDC). They will provide you with academic support workshops, pastoral support and career readiness and can work with you on a one-to-one basis to ensure that you progress through your course and have the support to do so.

9. Can I pursue an apprenticeship at any age?

Definitely! It's a common misunderstanding that apprenticeships have an age cap, but this is not the case. We work with many top employers, so no matter what your career aspirations are, we're sure to have something that fits your needs.

Find out more about Apprenticeships

10. Do you offer careers advice?

We do - we offer professional, impartial, and confidential advice and guidance to current students and prospective students to enable them to make informed decisions and to plan the next steps towards their future, including guidance with applying for employment, university applications or apprenticeships.

Our qualified and experienced staff offer quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG). We have achieved the Matrix Standard, the international quality standard for delivering Information Advice and Guidance (IAG).

Go back