West Nottinghamshire College

West Nottinghamshire College

Age: 107

History: The college was formed in the 1970s from an arts and a technology college which dated back to 1904. The Higher Education Centre was founded by a local consortium of business and civic organisations linked to the University of Nottingham, to provide HE to the town and locality.

Address: 11 sites across Mansfield and Sutton in Ashfield. Four main campuses – at Chesterfield Road in Mansfield, Derby Road and Ashfield in nearby Sutton and a new £8.1m construction and logistics academy in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

Ambience: Mansfield has everything of the energy, culture and spirit found in legends of Robin Hood country. It has suffered from the decline of the coal mining and textile industries, but programmes of regeneration are well underway. The town centre has one of the country's largest traditional outdoor markets.

Vital statistics: Takes in around 20,000 students each year. A large further education college, offering a wide range of general and vocational programmes. Mansfield Centre of Higher Education is based on the main Derby Road campus, and has study resources, catering and social facilities. There is also an HE centre at the Kirkby-in-Ashfield Station Park campus. HE courses are validated by the University of Derby and Leeds Metropolitan University. Computing, construction and sports science courses are delivered on the main site and other courses such as engineering, construction and logistics, performing arts and business are delivered in specialist outside centres.

Added value: Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in health and care and advanced design and manufacture. Football and basketball academies. West Nottinghamshire is the only college in the county to have been awarded Beacon status. Has a Matrix award in recognition of advice and information offered to learners.

Easy to get into? Yes - keen on widening participation. Most foundation degrees ask for a Level 3 qualification, and the majority of applicants will be interviewed.

Glittering alumni: None as yet.

Transport links: The three main campuses are just off junction 28 of the M1. Trains from Mansfield station take two and a half hours to London. Sheffield and Nottingham are half an hour away each.

Who's the boss? Principal Asha Khemka OBE.

Teaching: In 2008 the College was awarded Grade 1, or 'outstanding', across all categories by Ofsted inspectors, ranking it as one of the best colleges in the country.

Foundation degrees: Business improvement techniques; business management' children's and young people's services; communication and networking technologies; construction; public sector administration; corporate administration; software development with multimedia; spa therapies; hairdressing and salon management; public services and law; sport (and science, coaching or fitness).

Nightlife: Mansfield caters for all tastes. There are sophisticated wine bars, real-ale outlets, live comedy nights, cheesy clubs and hardcore dance venues. Students’ union social events include seasonal parties and a themed May Ball.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college, but there's an accommodation officer on hand to help you find somewhere to stay.

Cheap to live there? Yes. Private rents in Nottingham are around £60 per week.

Fees: Vary by course and qualification for FE. Full-time HE courses are £1,345 per year for those starting in 2011, and part-timers will pay £750 per year. Fee plans for 2012 are yet to be confirmed.

Bursaries: The college has a discretionary Access to Learning Fund, from which it can offer short term support so that students can remain on their course.

Prospectus: 01623 627 191; www.wnc.ac.uk

UCAS code: Apply direct to college.