Wiltshire College

Wiltshire College

Age: 11

History: Wiltshire College started life in 2000 as three separate colleges: the Technical Colleges at Chippenham and Trowbridge and the Agricultural College at Lackham. In January 2008 Salisbury College merged with Wiltshire College to form the Wiltshire College of today.

Address: Four main campuses. Chippenham, Lackham, Salisbury and Trowbridge.

Ambience: The Lackham campus is set in a picturesque 860-hectare estate bordering the River Avon on the outskirts of historic Lacock village. The campus at Chippenham is adjacent to open parkland and the Olympiad sports centre, close to the town centre and opposite the railway station. Trowbridge campus is situated in a largely residential area on the outskirts of town, a 25-minute drive from Bath. Salisbury campus is at the heart of the beautiful cathedral city, surrounded by excellent shopping, cafes, entertainment venues and nightlife.

Vital statistics: More than 3,300 full-time and 6,000 part-time students studying more than 900 courses. Foundation degree and degree courses are validated by University of Bath, Royal Agricultural College, Bath Spa University, UWE Bristol, the University of Greenwich and Bournemouth University.

Added value: Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in digital and broadcast eedia, and plumbing and related studies. The college has a strong relationship with the local business community through its Employer Responsive Team. Its motorsport engineering courses are delivered at specialist facilities at the Castle Combe race circuit.

Easy to get into? Entry requirements vary widely dependent on course. Some foundation degrees are available to study straight from GCSE, whereas others require a Level 3 qualification.

Glittering alumni: Jazz musician Jamie Cullum; footballer Lewis Haldane; agricultural journalist Mick Roberts.

Transport links: Trains from Chippenham station take 80 minutes to London, while those from Trowbridge take two hours. Salisbury has excellent train links to London (90 minutes) and the South Coast. The A350 links Lackham and Chippenham to the M4 with the cities of Bath and Bristol only a half hour journey away. Buses and trains are frequent and reliable.

Who's the boss? Di Dale, principal and chief executive.

Teaching: A 2007 Ofsted inspection found the college to be 'satisfactory overall', with the quality of provision being deemed 'good'. The QAA earlier this year confirmed that confidence could be placed in the college's higher education provision.

Foundation Degrees: Animal science and management; applied art and design; applied computing; humanistic counselling; rural environmental management; creative digital media; early childhood studies; motorsport engineering; education studies for teaching assistants.

Nightlife: Many students at Lackham live on site, which has its own bar, fitness facilities and special events organised throughout the year. Salisbury also has on-site city centre halls of residence and plenty of pubs, clubs and food options as well as music and comedy venues and a cinema. Chippenham and Trowbridge town centres have restaurants, bars and clubs and Bath and Swindon are a short drive, train or bus ride away for even more. Chippenham also has a cinema.

Any accommodation? Yes. At Lackham if you're over 18 you'll pay £124 per week for half board, or £93 per week for self-catering. 16 to 18-year-olds are charged £116 per week (half board only). In Salisbury, rents vary between £99 and £125 per week dependent on the standard of the room. No onsite accommodation at Chippenham or Trowbridge, although customer services can advise on local landlords.

Fees: Vary for FE courses, with many students being exempt from paying. HE fees are £3,375 per year for full-time home udnergrads starting in 2011. As of 2012, the college will be charging £4,500 per year for its HNCs and HNDs, £5,950 per eyar for its foundation degrees and the BA in fashion, and £7,500 per year for the BSc in social work.

Bursaries: For students on a Wiltshire College HE course, £1,500 is available to those with a household income of up to £25,000 per year, or £750 to those with an income between £25,001 and £50,020. Students on university-franchised courses are able to apply for bursaries through these instituitions.

Cheap to live there? The cost of sharing a house in Wiltshire starts at around £70 per person per week.

Prospectus: 01249 466 846; www.wiltshire.ac.uk

UCAS code: W74