Information for New & Prospective Students
Choosing a Higher Education or Degree Course is one of life’s major decisions. It determines what comes afterwards; job, lifestyle, but like all good things, a University degree or other award takes time to achieve and at The College we understand the pressures that this can bring. Whether you are a part-time, full-time or mature student our specialist HE Unit will be happy to answer any queries that you may have about Higher Education. The Bournemouth and Poole College has a team of highly qualified and professional teaching staff, all of whom work closely with the staff from our Partnership Universities.
Foundation Degrees
A Foundation Degree is a modern, vocational Higher Education qualification which combines study with hands-on work experience. Designed, developed and supported by employers who are keen to make sure that these degrees meet their needs, they are highly valued by both employers and students because they equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to get on in the workplace. You can use the letters FdA or FdSc after your name when you’ve gained your Foundation Degree. You can also progress from a Foundation Degree to an Honours Degree or other professional qualifications. A Foundation Degree can also provide a route into Higher Education for people who have never before considered Higher Education.
University Partnerships
We enjoy very good relationships with Bournemouth and Winchester Universities and work in partnership together. If you choose to study at the Bournemouth and Poole College on a Higher Education Course you will automatically be classed as either a Bournemouth University or Winchester University student. All our full-time Foundation Degrees are linked to Bournemouth University. The Diploma in Higher Education is linked to Winchester University. Some Part-time Courses are in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire, Southampton and Leicester.
Higher Education Unit at The College
The Higher Education Manager and Administrator are available on the Lansdowne Campus to help with any general queries throughout the course. The Higher Education Unit regularly meets with student representatives at The College and student union representatives from Bournemouth University. The Unit is the central liaison point with the Higher Education Partners.
Financial Support for Fulltime Students
From September 2008, Universities and Colleges will be able to charge new students up to £3,145 a year for their Courses. So depending on what you study and where, you may have to pay a contribution up to a maximum of £3,145 a year. Amounts charged will vary between courses, as well as between different Universities and Colleges.
The Tuition Fee for students starting on all full-time Foundation Degrees and the Diploma in Higher Education Course in September 2008 at the Bournemouth and Poole College (a Partner College of Bournemouth University and Winchester University) is £3,145. Any increases will be limited to the rate of inflation until at least 2010.
However, the good news is that you will not have to pay for your Tuition Fees before or during your time at University and can defer payment by taking out a Tuition Fee Loan. You may take out a loan of up to £3,145 at the beginning of the academic year to contribute towards the tuition fee. This is paid directly to the University by the Student Loans Company and you will only need to repay the loan when you have left University and are earning over £15,000 a year.
Also, there is a new non-repayable Maintenance Grant of up to £2,835 a year for new full-time students from households with a lower income. This grant will be based on the household’s income and does not have to be paid back. Students will be assessed automatically for the new grant, at the time you apply to your LEA for your Student Loan.
Furthermore, there is a new non-repayable Special Support Grant of up to £2,835 a year for new full-time students who may be eligible to receive benefits such as Income Support or Housing Benefit while they are studying. This will generally be lone parents, other student parents and students with disabilities. The Special Support Grant will be based on the household’s income and does not have to be paid back. Students who are eligible for the Special Support Grant will not be eligible for the Maintenance Grant.
Student Maintenance Loan
This loan is to help you with your living costs whilst at University and is means-tested. The maximum amount available for 2008 is £4,625 and all students are eligible for 75% of the loan, with eligibility for the remaining 25% based on your household income. As with the Tuition Fee Loan you will only need to start repaying the loan once you have left University and are earning over £15,000 a year. There is other financial help available and details of this, as well as more information on all of the above, can be found on the Bournemouth University website at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/financialhelp for those students wishing to study on one of our Foundation Degrees, and www.winchester.ac.uk/fees2007 for students wishing to study on the Dip HE in English. You can also contact your local LEA for further details.
Bursaries and Scholarships
Every Bournemouth University student who meets the income criteria will receive a non-repayable award. Please note that you do not need to formally apply for the bursary as the whole application process is automatic provided you have been assessed by the LEA.
Minimum Standard Bursary
As Bournemouth University is charging fees of more than £2,835, if you receive the full maintenance grant of £2,835you will automatically receive a non-repayable minimum standard bursary of £310.
BU Bursaries
These are non-repayable awards, with a value up to £1,000 per year, and are means tested according to the assessment made by your LEA for your maintenance grant. Together with the minimum standard bursary your potential award could total £1,310 per year at University.
Partner College Student Bursaries
In addition to the £1,310 means tested bursary, when you study at the Bournemouth and Poole College as a Bournemouth University student you will automatically receive a non-means tested bursary of £500. This is payable in two instalments via the Student Loan Company.
EU Students
Bournemouth University will be offering support for EU students, please contact the Student Financial Support Advisor there at ksutton@bournemouth.ac.uk For further details of these bursaries, please see www.bournemouth.ac.uk/financialhelp Additional bursaries are available for Social Work and NHS Students, please contact the Institute of Health and Community Studies on (01202) 967358 for information.
For Winchester University students, Winchester Partner Colleges Scholarships are available. The Winchester Partner College Scholarship will be payable by University College Winchester at the end of the first term of the first year of study. For further details of Winchester University bursaries, please see www.winchester.ac.uk
Academic Achievement, Sport, Music and Citizenship Scholarships at Bournemouth University
As the Bournemouth and Poole College are linked to Bournemouth University, there are also a number of BU scholarships available offering an award of up to £1,000 in value per annum. These are non-means tested scholarships based solely on evidence of outstanding achievement in the following areas:
- Academic Merit
- Sporting Achievement
- Music
- Citizenship
The £1,000 award can be used as money, services or materials that will be of assistance to you during
your studies. Applications for scholarships should be made as soon as you accept an offer to study at
Bournemouth University.
For further details about these Scholarships please see www.bournemouth.ac.uk/financialhelp
Financial Support for Part-Time Students
From September 2008, the amount of financial help available to eligible part-time students in Higher Education is increasing. This applies to new and existing part-time students.
Non-Repayable Grants
There is a Course Grant worth up to £255 to help with costs like books and travel. There is a non-repayable Grant for Tuition Fees worth up to £1,180 depending on the intensity of your Course. (Course intensity is related to the time it takes to complete your part-time course compared to the full-time equivalent course). Your University or College will agree with you how long it will take to complete your Course and which of the intensity bands below will apply.
| Part Time Tuition Fee Support Available | Intensity of Course |
|---|---|
| Up to £1,180 | At least 75% of a Full Time Course |
| Up to £945 | At least 60% of a Full Time Course |
| Up to £785 | At least 50% of a Full Time Course |
The Part-Time Tuition Fee and Course Grants depend on your household income and other personal circumstances.
Accommodation
College Courses are taught either at the Lansdowne Campus, Bournemouth, the North Road or Constitution Hill Campuses, Poole, or at Knighton Heath Music Studios, Bournemouth. It is important that you note where you are studying when completing your UCAS electronic application and when considering accommodation. The College sites are within a four mile radius of Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus.
You can apply through Bournemouth University for accommodation when you have accepted an unconditional offer of a place to study on a Bournemouth University course at The College. A deposit must be paid to the Accommodation Service by the end of August to secure your accommodation.
Telephone: 01202 965385, 01202 965333 or 01202 965389.
Website: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/accommodation
E-mail: accommodation@bournemouth.ac.uk for more information.
Alternatively, students wanting to study on the Dip HE in English can find their own accommodation with a private Landlord in Bournemouth.
Learning Support / Students with Learning Difficulties & Disabilities
It is of great importance to us that all of our students are supported throughout their studies to ensure they achieve further academic success and career development. Both the University and The College welcome students with additional support needs. A box on the UCAS electronic application invites you to indicate any learning difficulties or disabilities that could cause educational disadvantage or difficulty in using or accessing facilities. You are advised to arrange a visit to Bournemouth University and the College and to write to the Registry at the same time as transmitting your form to UCAS (if applying to study a Foundation Degree). Registry’s address is: Registry, Bournemouth University, Melbury House, 1st Floor, 1-3 Oxford Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 8ES.
For further information, you can contact Dr James Palfreman-Kay (Bournemouth University’s Additional Learning Needs Adviser) on 01202 965327 or email: jmpkay@bournemouth.ac.uk.
For Winchester University students (those wishing to study on the Dip HE in English) it is advised you arrange a visit to the College. Please contact Learning Support at the College (01202 205403) for this to take place.
The College’s Learning and Support Services help students with a range of additional learning needs related to physical difficulties throughout their course. Students with support needs e.g. dyslexia, hearing, visual, physical, mental health problems and certain medical conditions, may be eligible for Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA) to pay for extra costs incurred in order to complete their course, as a direct result of disability. This may include, for example, extra tutorials or specialist IT equipment.
Information regarding DSA can be found:
- Free information line: 0800 7319133
- Free textphone: 0800 210280
- Website: http:/dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/student_disabled.com
If you feel you may be eligible for DSA, contact your LEA as soon as possible for the correct application forms.
Please feel free to contact Learning Support (01202 205359, 205956 or 205403) if you need help with this process. Different LEAs have different ways of dealing with DSA applications but generally the sooner you apply the better, particularly if you have an unconditional offer of a place. The sooner your support needs are discussed and put in place, the more effective the provision will be, so please contact us as soon as you accept the place. We will contact you again in September if we have not heard from you.
College Calendar
Autumn
Monday 29 September 2008 (start of term)
Friday 12 December 2008 (end of term)
Spring Term
Monday 12 January 2009 (start of term)
Friday 27 March 2009 (end of term)
Summer
Monday 20 April 2009 (start of term)
Friday 3 July 2009 (end of term)
Part-time courses
These normally start the week beginning 15 September 2008. The dates are provisional. Please contact relevant departments.
The College 2009 - 2010 term dates will be posted on
www.thecollege.co.uk/highereducation/
when they are available.
Some students including Applied Arts, CAD, Finance & Law and Marketing 1st Year students may have an extended Summer Term for work placement. Please refer to your course tutor before you start your course so that your accommodation needs are met.
Travel
The distance between Talbot Campus (Bournemouth University) and the Bournemouth and Poole
College is two miles. Bournemouth University subsidises a frequent bus service called Unilinx, run by
Wilts and Dorset Bus Company between the Campuses and around the town. For further information
about Unilinx, please telephone +44 (0) 1202 965001 or visit the website: www.unilinx.net
