New College Stamford (formerly Stamford College)

New College Stamford (formerly Stamford College)

Age: 42

History: Formerly Stamford College.

Address: Stamford, Lincolnshire. Also has centres in Spalding, Sleaford and Grantham.

Ambience: The college is set in its own attractive campus a short walk from the town centre. It has developed rapidly over the last few years and offers modern facilities.

Vital statistics: Around 2,000 full-time and 6,000 part-time students mainly studying further education courses, with a small proportion following university level programmes. Higher education is validated by the University of Lincoln, Bishop Grosseteste University and the University of Northampton.

Added value: The college's £2.7m new build was opened in June 2011. The state-of-the-art building provides new social and recreational space alongside student support services, a bistro and a conference/lecture room.

Easy to get into? Yes - keen on widening participation. HE applicants should have a Level 3 qualification.

Glittering alumni: None as yet.

Transport links: The college is a 15-minute walk from the bus and train stations. There are direct trains from Stamford to Peterborough, Leicester and Lincoln.

Who's the boss? Andrew Patience is principal.

Teaching: A 2011 Ofsted inspection awarded the college an overall grade of 'good'. Provision in skills for life and work was deemed to be 'outstanding'.

Foundation degrees: Learning practioners; children's services (early childhood); health and social care; illustration; sports development.

Nightlife: For a little rural town, Stamford is surprisingly well provided with bars and clubs catering for students, and a full quota of ye-olde English pubs and restaurants. If you get tired of it, you can easily escape to nearby Peterborough for the night.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college.

Cheap to live there? It varies. House shares in Peterborough are available for around £60 to £80 per week.

Fees: £3,290 per year for full-time udnergrads starting in 2011. As of 2012, this figure will go up to £6,000.

Bursaries: £1,000 available to every full-time HE student in 2011. The college will not be offering any scholarships or bursaries in 2012.

Prospectus: 01780 484 311; www.stamford.ac.uk

UCAS code: S68