What are they?

•  They are six colleges in different parts of the UK which offer courses with accommodation provided

•  They are aimed at people aged over 20 whose full time studies ended when they left school

•  Courses are usually for one year

•  A special bursary is paid which covers fees, accommodation and other living expenses

What sort of courses do they offer?

•  Courses are more academic, such as history or economics, rather than being directly focused on work

•  Most of these colleges offer Access courses as a way of progressing further to University. See ‘Access courses’.

How do I find these colleges?

The easiest way is to look at their websites:

How do I get a place at these colleges?

•  None of these colleges has formal entry requirements

•  You simply get the application forms from the college

•  Selection is normally by interview. You may also have to write an essay and give the name of referees

What does it cost?

If you are on benefits, then you will usually come off of them during a one year course. Your accommodation, course fees, and other living expenses are then covered by a bursary (a type of grant which does not have to be paid back).