Leicester College

Age: 12

History: Charles Keen College and Southfields College merged in 1999 to form Leicester College.

Address: The college is spread over three campuses: Freemen’s Park, Abbey Park and St Margaret’s, all of which are within 1.5 miles of the city centre.

Ambience: Big and bustling: one of the ten largest colleges in the country. This mdoern, culturally diverse city has a lot to offer – High Cross shopping centre opened in Leicester in 2009 and the 700-year-old market is the largest indoor market in Europe.

Vital statistics: More than 28,000 students, of whom around 20,000 are part-time and 700 on higher education courses. The college offers the usual smorgasbord from basic skills, apprenticeships, vocational qualifications as well as university-level qualifications.

Added value: Leicester College is an associate college of De Montfort University and part of Leicester University's college and university liaison network. Its state-of-the-art campuses provide industry-standard training facilities, many of which offer quality services to the general public at reduced prices, including a hair and beauty salon and a five-star fine dining restaurant, Taste. The college holds the Matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance services for employer engagement, the Investors in People award and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) Leading the Learner Voice Award for community and social cohesion.

Easy to get into? Entry requirements are dependant on the course and the level at which it is being studied; UCAS points are not usually a big issue, so consult the course guidelines.

Glittering alumni: Aaron Patterson, Michelin starred chef at Hambleton Hall; Jane Stidever, Paralympic swimming gold medallist; Gok Wan, celebrity stylist.

Transport links: The four main campuses are well-served by local transport services. Leicester is just 100 miles north of London, with good road and rail links.

Who's the boss? The principal is Maggie Galliers who joined in 2002 from Henley College, Coventry and won an CBE for services to further education last year.

Teaching: In 2011, Ofsted found the college outstanding at meeting the needs of learners, employers and the wider community. The college also holds two Beacon awards.

Foundation Degrees: Artistic make-up and special effects; footwear; fashion costume; video with photography; children, families and community; creatuve sound technology; performance; photography and video; graphics and emedia; sports coaching; children, families and community health.

Nightlife: With so many students in town there is a wide choice of drinking establishments, from cellar bars to dance clubs. The more sober scholar can discuss their studies or just gossip in the local cafés and eateries. The best food on offer has to be Indian, from classic chicken tikka to the enormous range of vegetarian specialities.

Any accommodation? None offered by the college, but some private agencies do offer accommodation in halls of residence.

Cheap to live there? Quite reasonable, a room in a shared house will only cost between £60 and £70 per week.

Fees: £1,850 per year for full-time undergrads starting in 2011. Fees for 2012 are yet to be confirmed, although they will be below £6,000 per year.

Bursaries: None offered by the college in 2011. However, the college will offer some funding through the National Scholarship Programme in 2012.

Prospectus: 0116 224 2240; www.leicestercollege.ac.uk

UCAS code: L36