City College Norwich

City College Norwich

Age: 110ish

History: The college's roots go back to the 1890s, although it moved to its present campus 50 years ago. As an associate college of the University of East Anglia, all of the HE courses are validated by UEA.

Address: Located on a single campus just a few minutes' walk away from the city centre.

Ambience: A welcoming feel, and a diverse yet inclusive environment.

Vital statistics: A large college of further and higher education, offering both academic and vocational courses, including foundation degrees and other undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The college has a staff of over 1,000 and around 16,500 students each year, of which about 1,700 are studying HE. A massive education provider in the region, with one third of all 16 to 18 year olds in Norfolk attending the college. University level courses are awarded in partnership with the University of East Anglia.

Added value: City College has three Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) - in Hospitality and Catering, Accountancy and Financial Services, and Computing and Networking. Has five different National Skills Academies (financial services, manufacturing, hospitality, retail and creative and cultural). Classes and tutorial groups are kept as small as possible to maximise the benefit to each student. There are on-site IT services and learning resources centres. Excellent student support infrastructure, and an active students' union.

Easy to get into? Yes - takes pride in making programmes accessible. Standard UCAS entry point scores are asked for, but they will consider all relevant experience both in life and in work for applicants over 21.

Glittering alumni: Stephen Fry and Beth Orton both did their A-levels at the college.

Transport links: Good road and rail links to London and the Midlands. Some car parking on campus, and a park and ride service.

Who's the boss? Dick Palmer. Formerly deputy principal at Lewisham College, he has worked in the FE sector for over twenty years and, during his six years at Norwich, student success rates have risen by more than 10 per cent.

Teaching: At the most recent Ofsted inspection, the college was graded as 'satisfactory' overall, with science and mathematics being deemed 'inadequate'. However, in last year's partial reinspection, this was raised to 'satisfactory'.

Foundation Degrees: Early years; learning support practitioners; teaching assistants; arts and wellbeing; business management; popular music performance and production; hospitality management; journalism; leisure and events management; licensed retail management; management of care; management of culinary arts; media practice; public sector management; public services; sport, health and exercise; travel and tourism management; retailing; teaching assistants; health studies.

Nightlife: Norwich has vibrant clubs centred around the Riverside area, as well as excellent pubs, cinemas, theatres and an energetic arts and music scene.

Any accommodation? Only for international students.

Cheap to live there? Not bad. A room in shared house in Norwich can be found for around £70 per week.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time home HE students starting in 2011. The college plans to charge £5,999 as of 2012.

Bursaries: There's a generous non-means-tested bursary for most full-time students of £800 per year.

Prospectus: 01603 773 773; www.ccn.ac.uk

UCAS code: N82