GUIDE TO COLLEGE PARENT & CARER
3 2 In a nutshell, we are a small, friendly college in Birmingham with excellent industry contacts – and we have so many exciting things going on right now. We have lots of new courses to choose from and we have invested £160 million into our incredible facilities in the last decade. We know A-levels are not for everyone and our facilities give your child real-life experience beyond the textbook and assessment beyond the exam hall. You may already know University College Birmingham for our handson college courses, or you might be coming across us for the first time. Thank you for taking the time to read through our parent guide. WELCOME We offer specialist college courses, the new gold standard T-levels designed closely with employers, and industry-led apprenticeships that allow your child to study and get paid. Your child might not know what they want to do in the future. That’s okay. Our college courses open up opportunities, not limit them. University might not be on their radar, but as a college and a university under one roof, we offer a direct route into a great range of degrees. SILVER UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
5 4 WHY CHOOSE US? CAREER-FOCUSED COURSES £160M IN NEW FACILITIES LOOKING AFTER YOU BRIGHT LIGHTS, BRIGHT FUTURE Great work placement opportunities PRACTICAL TRAINING Get on the path to an exciting degree Study in the heart of the city Turn your passion into your career First-class learning and wellbeing support GET OUT INTO INDUSTRY Excellent support beyond the textbook Bring your studies to life Thinking about your child’s next steps after they finish school? Make it count! COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF OPEN DAYS There are so many reasons why you should choose a college course with University College Birmingham, but don’t just take our word for it. Our open days are the chance for your child to meet their future tutors and discover more about what they will study and the support they will receive, experience practical sessions and see what our brilliant city has to offer. Our students are the ones who know best though, so make sure you chat with them about their experiences. All open days will take place on campus. Any queries? Please call 0121 232 4300 or email marketing@ucb.ac.uk CAN’T ATTEND AN OPEN DAY? You can view our ‘guided’ campus tours at ucb.ac.uk/virtual-tours or apply for a college course at ucb.ac.uk/college-application My daughter found school difficult. We wanted her college experience to be different. She enrolled on the Professional Cookery course, but realised it wasn’t for her. We were really grateful she was given the opportunity to swap to Level 2 Food and Beverage Service. Communication from the College has been brilliant. Her lecturer is in constant contact, on a weekly, and sometimes even daily basis. She is also getting the right help to complete her maths and English GCSEs. I am delighted with the high level of support University College Birmingham has provided. TRACEY MOORE, PARENT Take a look when our next open day is by visiting ucb.ac.uk/open-days or scan the QR code below. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
6 7 Your child can progress their studies with University College Birmingham all the way up to Level 7. TYPES OF QUALIFICATION University College Birmingham is different from other colleges as we not only offer post-16 courses, but also undergraduate and postgraduate courses. – Building skills and confidence/no previous qualifications – GCSE grades 9–4 – Level 2 vocational qualification – A-levels – T-levels – Level 3 vocational qualification – Advanced apprenticeship – 1st year of Bachelor or Foundation degree – Higher National Certificate (HNC) – Level 4 vocational qualification – Higher apprenticeship – 2nd year of Bachelor or Foundation degree (FdA or FdSc) – Higher National Diploma (HND) – Level 5 vocational qualification – Higher apprenticeship – Final year of Bachelor degree (BA or BSc) – Level 6 vocational qualification – Degree apprenticeship – Master’s degree (MA or MSc) – PGCE – Level 7 vocational qualification – Postgraduate diplomas/certificates – Doctorate (PhD or DPhil) – GCSE grades 3–1 – Level 1 vocational qualification ENTRY LEVEL LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4 LEVEL 5 LEVEL 6 LEVEL 7 LEVEL 8 From the moment your child arrives, they will benefit from outstanding support from teachers, career advisors and our student services team. We believe in making every student feel valued and opening up a world of opportunities through: Quality courses that prepare students for employment Superb practical facilities Highly-effective links with industry providing excellent placement and career opportunities Our practical vocational courses will prepare your child for the world of work – or they might decide to stay on to study for a degree. We offer VRQs, diplomas, BTECs, national diplomas and T-levels in a supportive, friendly environment. Our courses are ideal for school-leavers. Below is a guide to understand the qualifications your child would need in order to get to where they want to be. WHAT IS A T-LEVEL? T-levels are the exciting equivalent to A-levels. You’ll spend 80% of your time in the classroom and 20% in a special industry placement. A T-level is equivalent to 3 A-levels. VRQ stands for Vocationally Recognised Qualification. These are courses that give students the skills and knowledge to meet the standards of a particular industry. BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. BTECs are specialist work-related qualifications. A diploma is a certificate that signifies a certain level of education and practical experience. Diplomas are typically more specific regarding a certain career. WHAT IS A BTEC? WHAT IS A VRQ? WHAT IS A DIPLOMA? UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
9 86 ENROL WITH US Enrolment will be in person. Our Admissions team will send instructions and an appointment time. RECEIVE AND ACCEPT YOUR OFFER Once your child has attended their interview, we aim to make them an offer within 24 hours. They will also receive an email confirming their offer within 24 hours of their interview - they need to follow the instructions and accept their place. Your child will then be invited over the summer to complete online registration and receive welcome information. THE INTERVIEW Book a date that suits your child to have a friendly chat with a tutor about the course they are interested in: ucb.ac.uk/interview APPLY DIRECT TO US Apply directly through us by completing a simple online application form: ucb.ac.uk/college-application YOU AND YOUR CHILD CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF Explore our campus and facilities online or in person at one of our open days. FIND A COURSE Search online or contact us to find the course that’s right for your child. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Any queries? Please call 0121 214 2919 or email feadmissions@ucb.ac.uk HOW TO APPLY SIX STEPS TO COLLEGE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
10 11 LEARNING SUPPORT Our learning support teams are committed to giving all our students the advice, skills and practical tools to discover their full potential. They include: Academic Skills Centre (CASE) Student mentoring Support with English Library services Learning spaces Computer facilities DISABILITY SUPPORT We welcome everyone, regardless of physical disability, medical conditions, or other specific special needs. Support for students who disclose a disability or health condition, including mental health conditions, starts from application and continues throughout their studies. HEALTH AND WELLBEING We have a free and confidential Health and Wellbeing Service, open to every student, that strives to promote and encourage healthy lifestyles, positive mental health, and wellbeing. We understand these things are fundamental for effective study and a positive student experience. Services include: Nurse and medical services Mental health and wellbeing service Counselling service Support resources and guidance PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREERS SUPPORT Your child’s time with us is not just about the classroom – or study time. It is just as much about making sure they are prepared for life after college, whether that be heading straight into a job, or continuing on to university to study for a degree. We aim to ensure they have the experience, life skills and personal qualities to help them make a success of whatever they choose to do next. And there are various services, tools and resources available to help ensure their personal development. AWARD-WINNING SUPPORT Whatever help your child needs, our support teams are committed to giving the advice, skills and practical tools to help them discover their full potential, all while helping to look after their health and wellbeing. The Academic Skills Centre can help with essay writing, getting started with presentations, understanding feedback and much more TOP TIP Our student support services are award- winning and we place a great emphasis on constantly improving and adapting the services we offer, using the feedback we receive from our students. That means your child will always be able to access support that is tailored to their needs. TUITION FEES Understanding tuition fees can be daunting, but we’ve made it as easy as possible. College courses are free for students up to the age of 18. Beyond that, there may still be help available, and in some cases tuition is free for those aged 19 or over. More information regarding tuition fees can be found at: ucb.ac.uk/college-fees COLLEGE FINANCIAL SUPPORT Financial support is available to college level students from households with a total income of less than £31,000 per year. Support includes help with essential uniform, equipment, travel and free college meals. Eligibility criteria applies. Your child can download an application form and guidance notes at: ucb.ac.uk/college-fin 16-18 PHOTOCARD Full-time students aged under 18 on 1 September 2023 may be able to access child-rate fares and season tickets with a 16-18 photocard. The card is free of charge and students can apply online at www.networkwm.com/16-18 from early August 2023. LIVING ON A BUDGET When living on a budget, every little helps. We can offer free lunch-time meals to students who are aged 16 to 18, in fulltime education, and deemed eligible by the Government. Our lunch scheme is discreet. All students need is their ID card to claim their free meal. To apply, you will need to complete a Discretionary Bursary Scheme form. It is important that your child’s finances are managed well while at college, and to make sure they access any financial support that they are entitled to. College students can apply to the following through University College Birmingham’s financial support scheme: Please see our website to see what support you are eligible for and how to apply. You can also email FinancialSupport@ucb.ac.uk for more information TOP TIP FINANCIAL SUPPORT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
KEY CONTACTS ADMISSIONS Email: feadmissions@ucb.ac.uk Phone: 0121 214 2919 University College Birmingham Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JB 0121 232 4300 / 0121 604 1000 ucb.ac.uk marketing@ucb.ac.uk University College Birmingham Snow Hill New Street Bullring & Grand Central Moor Street Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Library of Birmingham Broad Street A38 Birmingham City Centre Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Snow Hill Station 2 5 1 6 Summer Row The Link Camden House James Cond McIntyre House Moss House The Maltings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. New Street Station 3 4 The Maltings 10-15 minutes' walk away Summer Row Great Charles St Queensway Paradise Circus Newhall St Lionel St Fleet St Charlotte St Holland St George St Sand Pits Birmingham and Fazeley Canal 7 Granville St Cambridge St If your child wants to do A-levels in Birmingham and prepare for university in the same study environment, the exciting news is we’re launching a brand new sixth form centre for the city. Set to open in September 2024, the new centre will be based at our Camden House campus building in Birmingham city centre, offering a wealth of new study options for post-16 learners. SIXTH FORM CENTRE COMING SOON Find out more information and register your interest at ucb.ac.uk/study/sixth-form-centre/
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