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 2^oC to 12^oC in Winter and 15^oC to 30^oC 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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