Hertford Regional College

History: Hertford Regional College is one of the largest further education colleges in Hertfordshire. Based over two sites in Broxbourne and Ware, the college was formed from the merger of Ware College and East Herts College in the early 1990s. Since then it has grown in size, currently employing 900 staff, and also in reputation. It offers a wide range of full and part-time courses and training services for businesses.

Address: Two sites: one in Broxbourne and one seven miles away in Ware, near Hertford.

Ambience: A fairly rural college, but close to London. Ware in particular is a quiet town with some shops and pubs. Parts of the college are picturesquely old. Broxbourne is larger with a big shopping centre nearby, but the college itself is in classic 60s purpose-built style.

Who's the boss? Andy Forbes is principal.

Prospectus: 01992 411 411 or visit here.

UCAS code: H36

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Not bad. You'll need 120 UCAS points for a foundation degree.

Foundation Degrees: Include art and design, visual merchandising; business; early years; playwork; information technology; computing and public services (uniformed).

Extended degrees: 3D design, business, community playwork practice and extended provision, early years, fine art practice, graphic design, IT and business, IT for multimedia, and visual merchandising.

Vital statistics: Around 12,000 students enrol each year, with around 400 students studying at degree level. Higher education courses are offered in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and the University of Greenwich.

Added value: Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in children's care, learning and development: the only childcare CoVE in Hertfordshire. Two dance studios, a TV and recording studio, a 140-seat theatre and areas designated for music practice.

Teaching: 2009's Ofsted report graded the college as 'satisfactory', with 'good' areas in health, social care and childcare, and hairdressing and beauty therapy. No areas were deemed 'unsatisfactory', an improvement on two in 2004 and five in 2002.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college.

Cheap to live there? Can be anywhere between £70 and £100 per week for a room in a shared flat.

Transport links: Both centres are easily accessible by road, bus and rail. The Broxbourne Centre is a 10 minute bus journey from Broxbourne station on the London-Cambridge line. The Ware Centre is a 5 minute walk from Ware station on the London-Herford East line. Both of these lines go into London.

Fees: Charges £5,800 per year for full-time students starting in 2013.

Bursaries: The non-means tested College Consortium Award of £1,000 per year is available to all full-time foundation or extended degree students.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Ware students tend to venture into Hertford for their weekend frolics, which is three miles away and considerably livelier. Broxbourne has plenty of pubs, but most head to London at weekends.

Sporting facilities: Ware, in particular, has access to good sporting facilities in Wodson Park which is open to staff and students - a gym, fitness suite and a big sports hall.

Glittering alumni: None as yet.