West Herts College

West Herts College (West Herts College)

History: The origins of West Herts College can be traced back to 1947 with the foundation of Watford Technical College. Since then it has joined forces with various other local educational establishments, such as Cassio College and George Stephenson College. The present day West Herts College was founded in 1991.

Address: Three sites at Watford, Dacorum and Kings Langley.

Ambience: Fresh and modern at the Watford campus, which was finished in 2010 and is in close proximity to shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs. Situated two minutes' walk from the town centre, the building is based around a central square where students can socialise and relax. Other sites have their own character and unique set of facilities, with Dacorum due for the next refurbishment.

Who's the boss? Gill Worgan is principal and chief executive.

Prospectus: 01923 812 345; or navigate through their site in order to find exactly what you need here.

UCAS code: W40

what you need to know

Easy to get into? Yes as it’s keen on widening participation. The typical offer is 120 UCAS points for a foundation degree or HND.

Foundation degrees: Business (on its own or with advertising, marketing, finance, HRM, law or IT); fashion and textiles; graphic design; illustration; advanced practices in beauty therapy; early years; IT for the internet; media production; photography; performing arts; sports studies.

HNDs: Public services, travel and tourism management.

Vital statistics: In the last academic year, the college enrolled more than 12,000 students - with 9/10 students passing their qualification. HE courses include HNDs, HNCs and Foundation degrees, and are accredited by the University of Hertfordshire.

Added value: Active in the community, providing support and specialist training for personal and professional development. The college is particularly proud of its provision in early years, business, IT, and creative industries. Foundation degree and HND students can apply for a Higher Education student bursary to help make studying more affordable. A dedicated Degree Centre provides HE students with their own space to catch up with work, chill out with friends and relax while they work.

Teaching: Was graded as 'outstanding' overall in its Ofsted inspection in 2010, with praise for the "high-quality of education and training", the levels of "care and support learners receive" and the college's commitment to "meeting the needs and interests of learners" in particular.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college.

Cheap to live there? As this is near enough to London, expect to pay up to £100 per week for a room in a shared flat.

Transport links: Watford and Hemel Hempstead have direct access to national road, rail and air links. The M25 and M1 are only a few miles from the town centres. The London-Scotland rail network runs through the towns (InterCity trains stop at Watford and go direct to Euston, which can be reached in 20 minutes), while major airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are within easy reach. Watford is also connected to the underground rail network through the Metropolitan line.

Fees: FE fees vary by course. All full-time foundation degrees cost £5,000 per year and HNDs cost £4,000 per year.

Bursaries: You can apply for a Higher Education student bursary. For the 2013/14 academic year, the maximum individual payment available to full-time students is £750. Part-time students may also apply for the bursary and payment will be made on a pro-rata basis. HND students will be entitled to a maximum of £525.

the fun stuff

Nightlife: There are two main nightclubs and lots of local bars, pubs and restaurants.

Glittering alumni: Spice Girl Geri Halliwell; TV presenter Gail Porter.