Expand+How to Apply
Unlike UCAS and CAO many of the Higher Education courses offered at South West College are by direct application to the College only.

Application forms are available to download from the College website: www.swc.ac.uk/learn/how-toap...

Hide-How to Apply
Unlike UCAS and CAO many of the Higher Education courses offered at South West College are by direct application to the College only.

Application forms are available to download from the College website: www.swc.ac.uk/learn/how-toapply - enrol or can be requested by telephoning the College, or collecting in person.

If you have a query relating to your application, please contact the appropriate Course Coordinator using the contact details provided in this prospectus. Alternatively get in touch with the Careers Officer at your relevant campus or log onto: www.swc.ac.uk/contactus.

Some points to note before submitting your application:
• Applications are accepted now. Please do not wait until your results are available. SWC can only accommodate a limited number of applications per course

• Applying for a course does not guarantee a place on that course. All applicants will be assessed by formal interview prior to enrolment

• Check that you meet the entry requirements detailed in the ‘Entry Requirements’ section for each course

• Receipt of your application form will be formally acknowledged via a text message from the College Admissions Team

• If you are successful at the application stage and are enrolled on a course you will be provided with all the relevant course information, including timetables, at a general course induction session in September.

ALL APPLICANTS WELCOME
The College welcomes applications from mature students, students with qualifications from other countries and those seeking to gain qualifications. The standard entry requirement for many courses may be waived if alternative qualifications or experience can be offered. For further information on fees for overseas students, please contact the Admissions Office at the relevant Campus.

Starts: 18/09/2017.

Expand+Entry Requirements
A levels - normally CD minimum; BTEC Extended Diploma in relevant subject with majority grades at merit level, Irish Leaving Certificate minimum BCCC, Access Course with overall average at least 55%, other qualifications as deemed...

Hide-Entry Requirements
A levels - normally CD minimum; BTEC Extended Diploma in relevant subject with majority grades at merit level, Irish Leaving Certificate minimum BCCC, Access Course with overall average at least 55%, other qualifications as deemed acceptable. Refer to general entry requirements.

General Entry Requirements
The following General Entry Requirements are the minimum qualifications needed for acceptance onto a Higher Education course at South West College. To be eligible to apply students should:

• Provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE English Language grades A-C or equivalent); and

• Provide evidence of passes in five subjects, two of which must be at A level (grades A-E) and three at GCSE level * (grades A-C); or

• Provide evidence of passes in four subjects, three of which must be at A level ** (grades A-E) and one at GCSE level * (grades A-C); or

• Provide evidence of an approved qualification at an equivalent level such as an Access to Higher Education qualification; or

• Contact the course co-ordinator regarding evidence of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

*GCSE English Language (grades A-C) may be used as part of the GCSE requirement.

** Where a student holds two Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level subjects, these are counted as equivalent to one A level subject.

Entry Requirements Guidelines:
Qualification:
Level 5 HND

Guideline Requirement:
Minimum 80 UCAS Points - depending on course, may require specific subjects. Criteria may be raised depending on demand.

Entry Requirements Guidelines:
Qualification:
Level 5 Foundation Degree

Guideline Requirement:
Minimum 120 UCAS Points - depending on course, may require specific subjects. Criteria may be raised depending on demand.

Please Note:
Year 1 must be satisfactorily completed in the same calendar year for enrolling for Year 2 of any course. Alternatively students must contact the course co-ordinator.

Expand+Full-Time Higher Education
Application forms
Prospective students complete a PN1 application form through their local Education Authority to assess the level of financial support that they will be entitled to.

Financial support available incl...

Hide-Full-Time Higher Education
Application forms
Prospective students complete a PN1 application form through their local Education Authority to assess the level of financial support that they will be entitled to.

Financial support available includes:
• Tuition Fee Loan to help with the cost of tuition fees

• Maintenance Loan to help with living costs

• Special Support Grant paid to those who are entitled to certain welfare benefits (instead of the maintenance grant) to help with extra course related costs (means tested)

• Maintenance Grant to help with living costs (means tested)

• Parents’ Learning Allowance this helps with course related costs for fulltime students with dependent children

• Childcare Grant available for students with dependent children in ‘prescribed’ childcare

• Adult Dependents’ Grant for those with adult dependants (not adult children)

• Disabled Students’ Allowance to help with extra costs incurred in studying due to a disability or learning difficultly

• University/College Bursary and/or Scholarship additional financial support available from colleges/universities, contact individual institutions for details of their bursary/ scholarship schemes.

Application packs are available from Student Services or your local Education Authority (EA). For further information: www.studentfinanceni. co.uk

Non UK / EU students should apply for tuition fee loan to: European Team in Darlington: Telephone: 0141 243 3570 or email: EU_Team@slc.co.uk

Hardship Funds
The College operates a Hardship Fund to which students, aged 18 or over at time of application, may apply if they have sourced all other avenues of support and can prove circumstances of hardship.

Applications will only be considered if supported by relevant documentary evidence.

Further information and/or application forms may be obtained from the relevant Campus Student Support Officer.

NB: Students who are eligible and can be verified on the SLC (Student Loan Company) portal for a student loan, will not have to pay fees at the time of enrolment.

However, if a student cannot be verified on the SLC portal, a £200 deposit must be paid at the time of enrolment. This deposit will be refunded to the student, on receipt of monies into the College bank account from SLC.

Expand+Higher Education
The College offers a wide range of modern and industry-relevant Higher Education curriculum. A key strategic target for the College has been to widen access and participation opportunities for students and, particularly, for the pop...

Hide-Higher Education
The College offers a wide range of modern and industry-relevant Higher Education curriculum. A key strategic target for the College has been to widen access and participation opportunities for students and, particularly, for the population of the South West Region. This strategic aim has been achieved in many ways. The College now provides an affordable, quality Higher Education offer and has overseen a growth in full-time provision of 400% and a growth in part-time provision of 50%. Quality has not been sacrificed to achieve this growth with all external assessments indicating standards of excellence.

The majority of courses are linked to degree courses in Queen’s University or Ulster University and provide the knowledge and skills required by the emerging knowledge economy. I hope there is an option that suits your needs.

Foundation Degrees
A Foundation Degree is a degree level qualification which combines academic study with work place learning. Designed in association with employers, they are qualifications to equip people with the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding to achieve academic results as well as improve performance and productivity in the work place. Foundation Degrees focus on providing core skills for a particular job or profession to increase employability skills for employers. A full-time foundation degree will take two years to complete, and part-time courses will normally take 3 years. However, at South West College a unique fasttrack option is also available part-time over 2 years (2 summer semesters included). Completing an honours degree following on from a foundation degree will normally take an extra two years.

Fast track Foundation Degrees
Since 2013 the South West College has been offering ‘Fast Track’ Foundation Degrees in the areas of Computing, Construction, Building Services, Architecture, Engineering Management, and Sustainable Construction. This framework has been developed in partnership with the Ulster University and is specifically designed to enable work based learners to complete a part-time Foundation Degree in two years over six semesters supported by blended learning. This model of delivery provides greater flexibility for work based learners and is offered at a reduced fee of £1000 per year. For further information log onto: www.swc.ac.uk/contactus.

HNDs
A Higher National Diploma (HND) is a workrelated course provided by higher and further education colleges in the UK. A full-time HND takes two years to complete, or three to four years part time. Generally an HND is equivalent to second year of a university degree and is a Level 5 qualification.

HNCs
A full-time Higher National Certificate (HNC) takes one year to complete, or two years part time. Many HNC courses cover the same subjects as an HND, but an HNC is one level below an HND. It’s generally equivalent to first year of a university degree and is a Level 4 qualification.

Please Note: All Foundation Degrees are accredited by either the Ulster University or Queen’s University Belfast and all have direct articulated pathways to honours degrees at each respective university.