Why should I choose BCG?
Buckinghamshire College Group offers a huge range of courses across the whole of Buckinghamshire. That means fantastic courses and opportunities are just a short distance away from your doorstep!
The College is has purpose built facilities, offering a wide range of programmes from Computing to Carpentry, Business Management to Barbering!
Buckinghamshire College Group’s full-time programmes are focused on preparing you for your next step – whether that is into a career or further education such as University. We work closely with national and local employers to make sure that our courses give you the right skills and development to help you progress into employment.
How do I choose a course?
Do you have a prospectus?
Yes, we have an online prospectus you can download from our homepage
How do I choose the right course?
Come along to an Open Day to meet our Tutors and discuss your options. They will be happy to go through our programmes with you and help you find the right course for you. There may also be taster sessions available, where you can speak to current students and get a feel for the course, and you can explore everything else the College has to offer! To register for our next Open Day click here.
Do you offer any Higher Education courses?
Yes, you can find all of our Higher Education offerings here. Buckinghamshire College Group is partnered with other Educational establishments to offer a range of Higher Education courses, including Creative Media Skills, Bucks New University and the University of Bedfordshire.
How do I apply?
I’ve found the perfect course, how do I apply?
To make an application simply click the red ‘Apply Now’ button! You will find this on every course page and also on the home page. The online process takes a few minutes to complete, and will automatically guide you through the questions. If you don’t have time to finish your application in one go don’t worry, you can save it and come back to it later.
What if I don’t have the required grades?
As we often say – there’s a course for everyone at Buckinghamshire College Group! Our course entry requirements are based on the level of study. Apply for your chosen course and if you don’t currently meet the requirements, a Tutor can discuss your options with you.
Will I need to have an interview?
All of our full-time programmes require an interview, but it isn’t as scary as it sounds! The Admissions team will contact you to arrange a suitable time. You should plan to be with us for around 2 hours (depending on the course). You will meet a Tutor who teaches on the course you are applying for, they will ask you questions about yourself and your interests, any work experience you may have and why you want to apply for the course. You may also complete a short maths and English assessment while you’re with us. More about the interview process can be found here.
When will I find out if I have been successful?
Often you will be told on the day whether you have been offered a place. We'll then send you an e-mail confirmation of your offer of learning and any conditions attached to that offer. From there you'll be able to accept or decline your offer. If you accept, we'll contact you later in the year with enrolment details.
Money Matters
Do I need to pay tuition fees?
Fees will vary depending on your age, circumstances and chosen course. Our full-time programmes for 16-18s are fully funded. This typically means no fee is required as long as you are aged under 19 on the 31st August at the start of each year.
Is there help with tuition fees?
Dependant on your circumstances you may be eligible for financial support. For more information click here.
Travel and additional costs
Dependant on your circumstances you may be eligible for support with travel to College. Some courses may also incur additional costs such as essential kit, uniform or the cost of trips. For more information click here.
Student Support
Is there anyone I can talk to if needed?
Yes, please don’t suffer in silence - your Tutor or Student Services are here to help you with any issues, even if it’s not related to your course. If you’re worried about your safety, our Safeguarding Team can help. Alternatively, you can call the Confidential Helpline on 07920 072463.
Do you have a counselling service at the College?
Yes, your Tutor or Student Services can put you in touch with our Student Counsellor.
Is there any learning support?
We can provide additional support for you if you have a learning difficulty, disability, medical condition, literacy, numeracy or language need. It's available to all students subject to assessment and agreement of need and resources, you can find out more here.
Student Life
How many days a week will I be in College?
For most full time courses you can expect to attend College 3 or 4 days a week. This allows you have extra time to work on your studies at home, or you could work part-time alongside studying. Part Time courses vary, but typically involve attendance to one session per week.
Is there a dress code?
Dependant on your course there may be a dress code or uniform requirement; your Tutor will confirm this to you at Interview.
What can I be involved in at the College?
There’s a lot going on at all of our campuses! A wide range of clubs are available from Young Carers to Mental Health, LGBT to Debating - where you may have a chance to compete nationally!
We also have lots of sports clubs at the College, to name a few we currently have Football, Badminton and Hockey.
Would I be able to change my course if it’s not for me?
A few weeks into your course you will have a ‘Right Choice Review’, where your Tutor will check that you are working to the right level and that you are happy with your course. If something isn’t quite right, adjustments can be made at this stage.
Find out more about student life here.
Childcare Facilities
Do you have a Day Nursery at the College?
Yes, our Aylesbury and Wycombe campuses have on-site Nurseries. These are purpose-built facilities for children between the ages of three months and five years. They provide childcare for students and staff and offer a limited number of places for the local community. You can find out more about the Nursery here.
Can I get any support for childcare costs?
You may be eligible for help with Nursery costs. Contact Student Services or click here for more information.
Other Information
What are the next steps after College?
On successfully completing your course you may want to progress to the next level qualification, go on to Higher Education, start an Apprenticeship or seek employment. Your Tutor, Student Services or our Careers Advisor can help you with your next steps.
Anything else?
Have we missed something? Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions which we haven’t covered here.
