Fareham College

Fareham College

Age: 27

History: The current college was formed in 1984 as a merger between an earlier technical and sixth-form college.

Address: Main campus located outside Fareham town centre, which is just west of Portsmouth on the south coast.

Ambience: Purpose-built campus updated with salons, construction centre at Fareham Reach, engineering workshops, laboratories, training restaurant, theatre, art and drama studio, music and media suites. The main block is an open-plan mall.

Vital statistics: Around 2,100 full-time and 2,000 part-time students.Offers the largest choice of courses available anywhere in Fareham & Gosport and surrounding areas, with over 100 courses from entry level to higher education.

Added value: Industry-standard vocational training facilities. Recently completed a £1m investment programme to improve access. In September 2010 the college opened The Gosport College Skills Centre dedicated to supporting young people in Gosport.

Easy to get into? Yes - keen on widening participation. Students must complete an interview for a place on an HE course.

Glittering alumni: None as yet.

Transport links: Buses stop outside the college; on-site parking; Fareham station 10 minutes' walk away.

Who's the boss? Principal Carl Groves, former competitive runner at a national level.

Teaching: A ‘good’ college with ‘outstanding’ features at the most recent Ofsted inspection.

Foundation Degrees: Both a full-time and part-time foundation degree in early childhood, but the college's main focus lies in vocational courses.

Nightlife: One nightclub in town centre, two theatres and Portsmouth and Southampton seven and ten miles away respectively.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college.

Cheap to live there? Rents in Portsmouth are about average, around £60 per week.

Fees: Vary widely between courses, with most students under 19 eligible to study FE courses at no cost to themselves. Check the college's website or contact them for specific course fees.

Bursaries: The college's student support department deals with a range of financial support schemes for students depending on personal circumstances.

Prospectus: 01329 815 200; www.fareham.ac.uk

UCAS code: F50