Living & Studying in Bournemouth and Poole

Bournemouth and Poole are the main towns in the county of Dorset, situated on the south coast of England, about two hours journey from London. (Map)

The area is one of outstanding natural beauty with many kilometres of sandy beaches, cliffs and rolling green hills. We have the New Forest National Park close by, plus the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

The area is a major tourist resort for both the British and visitors from around the world. The area is also very prosperous with many leading finance companies having their headquarters in the region. The towns have grown strongly and over the years have become one large 'city' of over 300,000.

There is no heavy industry in the area so the air is clear and clean. The climate is moderate ranging from 2oC to 12oC in Winter and 15oC to 30oC in the summer. Believe it or not, it doesn’t always rain in this part of England.

Being a tourist area there are many shops, restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels to enjoy. The cost of living is average for the country but we recommend that you need about £5000 per year for accommodation and living expenses on top of your tuition fees. Transport is good and there are cheap buses provided for students by the local university. As far as possible students are accommodated within easy travelling distance from The College.

There are many opportunities for International students in Bournemouth and Poole in respect of getting part-time work. Students can work up to 20 hours per week while they are studying and full-time during the holidays. The area has over 300 hotels and many restaurants, pubs and bars and work is easy to find.

You are also welcome to join The Bournemouth and Poole College's Student Union. They organise social events and activities, plus your SU card will entitle you to certain discounts (cinema, shopping etc.).


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What Our Students Have Said…

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Wendy Wei, China

Coming to England from China to continue my education has been one of the best things I have ever done. It takes a little getting used to at first, with the differences in culture, language and lifestyle, but Bournemouth is such a multi-national place now that it doesn’t take long to make new friends as well as meeting people from your own country.

The College does everything it can to make you feel welcome, from setting you up with a host family to making sure you are coping with the College environment. If you need extra help with the language then this can be arranged for you - you only have to ask!

There is a good mixture of ages and nationalities at The College which makes it an exciting place to study. The tutors offer support whenever you need it and the staff in the International office are riendly and approachable. They want you to feel as if you belong and this has really given me the confidence to do well at my studies.

I have made many good friends through The College and I shall look back fondly at my time here." Wendy is now studying Economics at Warwick University after having completed her A levels at The College.