Worcester College of Technology

Worcester College of Technology (Flickr (ell brown))

History: Emerged from several other institutes: the School of Art and Design, the School of Science and Art, and the Victoria Institute. The Deansway campus was built around the Glovers Needle spire of St. Andrews Church. It is 160 years old.

Address: Historic Worcester, on the banks of the Severn. Within a 30-mile radius there are the Welsh borders and the Wye Valley, the Cotswolds, and Birmingham. The cathedral is next door and Worcester Cricket Ground overlooks the College. Worcester Racecourse is nearby in Pitchcroft Park.

Ambience: An FE college offering degrees and foundation degrees as well as HNDs, HNCs and access courses. There are three main campuses at Deansway, Barbourne and a new construction workshop in Malvern. Some buildings specialise – for instance, St Wulstan's provides all higher education and lifelong learning, while the Barbourne building takes care of art and design, hairdressing and beauty, sport and leisure. Adult and community learning at several locations throughout the county, as well as at the two main campuses.

Who's the boss? Stuart Laverick is principal.

Prospectus: 01905 743 456; alternatively have a download their prospectus here.

UCAS code: W81

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW

Easy to get into? Varies widely between courses and qualifications. Some HE courses ask for previous Level 2 or 3 qualifications, whereas others want up to 240 UCAS points. Best to check the college's websites for specific requirements.

Foundation degrees: Fashion and surface pattern; art and design level 3 and 4; management, innovation and practice for the hair, beauty and spa sector; service sector management; business; automotive engineering; electrical systems and control; mechanical engineering; early years; popular music technology; fitness training and healthy lifestyles; sport (tourism) coaching and development.

Vital statistics: Around 3,000 full time students and almost 12,000 part-timers. Students from more than 110 countries. Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status in four areas: management & professional studies, chef training, construction and engineering.

Added value: The college offers outstanding learner support services. Facilities include a professionally equipped theatre and music production studio, training kitchens and restaurants, a travel agency, and a fully equipped commercial hair & beauty salon.

Teaching: In a 2009 inspection Ofsted deemed the college's provision to be 'good' overall and in most other areas.

Any accommodation? None offered by the college

Cheap to live there? Not bad – expect to pay around £70 to £85 per week for a room in a shared flat.

Transport links: Five minutes' walk from Foregate Street Railway Station and two minutes from the main bus terminal. There is also a large car park close by in Copenhagen Street and a college coach service from the surrounding areas. Close to the M5 and direct trains to London and Birmingham.

Fees: Around £5,000 per year for full-time undergrads starting in 2012, depending on course. Part-time students will pay around £2,500 (or a fee pro-rata to the full-time fee).

THE FUN STUFF

Nightlife: Worcester has a variety of bars, clubs and live music venues catering for all musical tastes. Among other things, the students' union organises Christmas parties and summer balls.

Sporting reputation: There are facilities for volleyball, football, badminton, netball and martial arts, as well as an enclosed tennis and netball court. A partnership with Worcester City Football Club entitles students to a range of training facilities including a multi-purpose training pitch and use of the club's football ground for showcase fixtures. Thanks to close ties with Worcester University, students from the college also have access to their facilities.