Northbrook College Sussex

History: Northbrook College Sussex was formed when the famous West Sussex College of Design merged with Chelsea College of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering.

Address: Two campuses in the seaside town of Worthing and one at Shoreham Airport.

Ambience: The main campus at West Durrington on the outskirts of Worthing,was purpose-built in the 1980s and is set among lawns and trees. It includes the Northbrook Theatre as well as workshops and studios for art and design studies and media suites. The engineering courses are based at Shoreham Airport between Worthing and Brighton. Finally, the Broadwater campus is just off the centre of town and houses the music recording studios.

Who's the boss? Sue Dare has been principal since 2009.

Prospectus: 0845 155 60 60 or visit the website here.

UCAS code: N41 NBRK

What you need to know

Easy to get into?

Foundation Degrees: Animation with motion graphics; graphic design; illustration; 3D design; fashion accessories; spatial and interior design; journalism; moving image; photography; music business and management; media composition; music performance; media production; theatre arts; business; early years care and educationautomotive engineering; motorsport engineering; computing.

Vital statistics: Large general further and higher education college with 1,000 staff and 16,000 full and part-time students, of which just under 1,000 are full time higher education students. On-campus professional theatre, training restaurant and recording studios. An affiliate college of Brighton University. It is the largest provider of higher education for the creative and cultural industries in West Sussex, as well as being a significant provider of higher education in a variety of other work-related areas.

Added value: Northbrook is known for providing individual support through relatively small teaching groups, personal tutors and numerous 'contact' hours each week. Students benefit from the academic and pastoral support offered by a relatively small institution. It is the only government-funded college of aeronautical engineering in the UK to be based at a working airport. Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) for skill air engineering and business and financial services.

Teaching: The college's provision in music and theatre received the highest possible grades in the most recent inspection by the QAA for higher education; confidence in the academic standards of the provision and commendable for teaching and learning, learning resources and student progression.

Any accommodation? No halls of residence but an accommodation officer assists students in finding a place on their own, either with other students or with a host family. Full arrangements are made for international students. There are a few college houses that cost around £100 per week but these are limited.

Cheap to live there? The average price for a self-catering house or flat with other students is between £90 and £100 per week.

Transport links: Rail links to Brighton, Gatwick and London. All campuses have train stations within walking distance. Many students cycle around Worthing.

Fees: £7,185 per year for full-time home undergrads starting in 2013, with the exception of students on one-year 'top-up' degree courses in the departments of theatre, arts and music who pay £7,700.

Bursaries: A number of bursaries based on family income and academic achievement are available.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Various pubs and clubs in Worthing as well as being 20 minutes by road or rail from the vibrant city of Brighton.

Sporting facilities: Various sporting activities are organised by the college's enrichment programme and leisure centres with pools are close by.

Glittering alumni: Musician Leo Sayer and Jamie Hewlett, comic book artist and co-creator of the band Gorillaz.