West London College

West London College

Age: 35

History: Has its roots in 1930s correspondence schooling and became West London College in 1977.

Address: Two sites slap-bang in the middle of London. Parliament House, on Oxford Street, is the college's administration and teaching building, while the second building, Hannah House (formerly the management training HQ of Marks and Spencer PLC) sits just off Baker Street.

Ambience: High-tech, yet comfortable and spacious. Through the proximity of the two sites and the provision of sporting, social and leisure facilities at the nearby International Students House, the college aims to create an authentic inner city 'on-campus' feel.

Vital statistics: Welcomes 1,000 new students every year from over 100 countries around the world. The college offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees validated by Herriot-Watt University, the University of Greenwich and Bournemouth University. Foundation and advanced diplomas, as well as summer programmes, are also available.

Added value: The college has seen large scale growth over the last decade, leading the addition of Hannah House, which is home to a new library and learning resource centre, a thirty terminal internet café, a subsidised restaurant, classrooms and, significantly, a new language school will allow the college to recruit non-English speakers. All classrooms are air-conditioned with whiteboards and digital projectors. Travel and tourism courses run in conjunction with Virgin Atlantic, the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality (CTH) and the Guild of Business Travel Agents.

Easy to get into? Not overly competitive, but it varies between courses. Most bachelor's degrees require some A-levels or previous vocational qualification, while postgraduate courses require a degree.

Glittering alumni: None as yet.

Transport links: Parliament House's closest tube station is Bond Street, while Hannah House is next to Baker Street. National Rail services are never far away in London, and the capital's airports are easily accessible by train.

Who's the boss? Paul Smith, principal.

Teaching: The college is accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Further and Higher Education (BAC) and has been awarded 'Premier Membership' of Study UK.

Nightlife: The college's central London location means you're never far away from a party. Be warned though, it may not come cheap.

Any accomodation? Yes, the college arranges hostel accommodation, including meals for around £136 per week.

Cheap to live there? Unfortunately not, especially not around Mayfair and Soho, where the college is based. Travel further afield to get a better deal, but don't expect to pay much less than £100 per week.

Fees: As an independent institute, the college is not bound by government regulations on tuition fees. Fees start at £5,940 per year for full-time undergrad courses.

Bursaries: None offered by the college.

Prospectus: 0207 491 1841; www.westlondoncollege.com

UCAS code: Not a member of UCAS, apply directly to college