York College

York College

Age: Over 100

History: York College dates back to the 1800s, though it moved to a snazzy new site in September 2007.

Address: York, near the Knavesmire Racecourse.

Ambience: York is full of rambling Tudor houses, meandering back streets and has a lively market. The Minster and city walls are great backdrops to youthful romance. It's also well placed for exploring Yorkshire's national parks and coast, and the cosmopolitan cities of Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh and London.

Vital statistics: Around 8,400 students, including 4,350 who study full-time. Around 400 students study at university level. It recently had a big revamp, and in 2007 a new £60m centre with state-of-the-art-facilities opened. It offers a range of academic and vocational qualifications at all levels, and works alongside local education providers and businesses. The college offers courses from pre-vocational through to degree level, and is an associate college of the University of York.

Added value: A Centre of Excellence for stonemasonry. The football, rugby and basketball development centres offer tutoring alongside academic courses. Good links with local universities and industry.

Easy to get into? Requirements vary, but you'll need some kind of Level 3 qualification to study an HE course.

Transport links: There's a park-and-ride opposite the college, which gives easy access from the city centre, and college buses cover the outskirts of York and the surrounding area. York is on the main railway line from London to Edinburgh and the M1.

Who's the boss? Dr Alison Birkinshaw became principal in January 2008.

Teaching: ‘An outstanding environment for teaching and learning’ (Ofsted in 2008).

Foundation degrees: Business management; health services management; community and public services; fashion design; holistic and spa treatments; media make-up and hair design for television, film and theatre; sports therapy; young children's learning and development; engineering.

Nightlife: Pub culture abounds in York, but the club scene isn't all that hot.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college, but if you need assistance and have been offered a place on a full-time higher education course at the college, the accommodation office will be happy to help.

Cheap to live there? About average. In 2011, private rents were around £75 per week for a room in a shared house.

Fees: Varies for FE courses, and most under-19s are exempt from paying. Full-time home undergrads starting in 2012 will pay £6,000 per year.

Bursaries: May be available through partnership universities.

Prospectus: 01904 770 400 / www.yorkcollege.ac.uk

UCAS code: Y70