UNIVERSITY CENTRE WELCOME GUIDE

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1 UNIVERSITY CENTRE WELCOME GUIDE Bury College is Outstanding

2 Welcome Thank you for choosing to study your university qualification at Bury College University Centre. This brochure contains useful information to help you prepare for your studies and life at our centre.

3 There are many reasons why Bury College University Centre is a great place to study: Supportive staff providing detailed feedback throughout your studies Smaller classes with a high level of tutor contact Lower fees than most universities Great location and transport links Career focussed courses Modern facilities including access to a new centre for university students Enthusiastic staff with industry knowledge Many courses have a strong vocational focus and offer links to local employers Free Bury College coach service Studying locally reduces the cost of living and allows you to stay close to family and friends In Partnership with

4 Modern facilities As a student at Bury College University Centre you will have access to our purpose built University Centre which includes: Computers and free wifi IT suites Social learning area Seminar and meeting rooms You will also have access to the college campus wider facilities Social space and a Bistro Learning resources Bury College University Centre has Learning Resource Centres on campus, providing a high quality, supportive and responsive service which focuses on your needs. Opening times Millennium Centre Monday to Thursday Friday Woodbury Centre Monday to Thursday Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 4:30pm 8:30am - 8:00pm 8:30am - 4:30pm

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6 I chose to study at Bury College University Centre because the tutors provide a more personal experience and offer lots of help. I m really enjoying my time here and love every aspect of my course. Suzan Millad, International Tourism Management BSc (Hons)

7 In addition to our facilities, you will also have access to a range of facilities at the university affiliated to your course. University of Bolton Use of library and free loan of laptops to use within the university University of Salford The University of Salford continually invests in its campus and facilities providing you with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to succeed in your career. The campus is based just one and a half miles from the centre of Manchester and offers a wide range of facilities if you are studying a University of Salford course. Sport Facilities Bury College boasts an impressive new Sports Centre with gym facilities and equipment. There are regular activities organised by our dedicated Sports Makers which are an ideal way for you to take a break from your studies, make new friends and keep fit.you can also take advantage of the excellent facilities at PlayFootball. This includes six five-a-side and two seven-a-side pitches with the latest rubber crumb surface technology. Students have exclusive use of the facility during term time and PlayFootball runs football leagues in the evenings. The pitches enhance the college s existing sports facilities and enable wider participation in sport and exercise.

8 Support Our students are extremely important to us and we want to support and help you to have the best possible experience at Bury College University Centre.

9 Tutors Our tutors will provide you with detailed feedback and one-to-one support. Many also have industry experience and knowledge to apply to your learning. Additional learning support Tell us about any needs you may have on your application or at interview. Our learning support tutors and support workers can help you during your time with us to meet a wide range of needs including sensory impairment, physical disabilities, dyslexia and general learning difficulties. Careers advice Learner Services at Bury College can offer careers advice and guidance throughout the duration of your course. Counselling Bury College offers a confidential counselling service which offers you the opportunity to explore any difficulties you may be experiencing in your life. Nursery Bury College has a 50 place nursery for students and the public. For further information visit: or call

10 Sorting your finances Bury College University College has lower fees than most universities, with no up-front fees to be paid on full and part-time courses. Many students studying higher education are eligible for some form of financial assistance. The main costs of studying a university course are tuition fees and living costs and there are loans available from Student Finance England to help with these: Fees Full-time fees from For part-time fees please see our website for the latest information at Bursary Bury College University Centre is now able to offer additional support if you are progressing directly from a Bury College level 3 full-time course onto a full-time course at Bury College University Centre. The 500 bursary will be paid each academic year of your course in two instalments and will be available to assist you during your time with us. For full details and conditions please visit Tuition loans Full and part-time students are able to pay course fees using a student loan, which you don t have to start paying back until you are earning 21,000* or more. Your tuition fee loan will be paid directly to Bury College.

11 Maintenance loan Maintenance loans are available to help full-time students with the cost of living whilst studying and unlike the tuition loan you will personally receive this money at the start of each term. Maintenance loans are allocated based on: Household residual income Whether you are living at home or away whilst you study. Apply as early as possible to make sure you have everything organised before you start your course. For more information, please visit: To apply online visit: Or call: *Details correct at October Please see

12 Accommodation Whilst studying at Bury College University Centre you may require accommodation. Living away from home while you study can be a worthwhile experience, helping you make friends and gain life skills for the future. Although we don t have our own halls of residence, you may apply to live in halls of residence at University of Salford or choose to source your own private accommodation. Bury College provides a free coach service which runs from Bolton and Manchester to Bury on a daily basis. For further details please visit: www. burycollege.ac.uk/freecoaches The Pack Horse private student halls of residence The Pack Horse is located in the heart of Bolton, close to the university and to transport links to Bury College. This period building was refurbished in 2010 as a boutique living accommodation and provides a welcoming social environment for students living away from home. The Pack Horse offers three types of rooms, with a range of prices, as well as access to a variety of facilities situated in the building including a gym, lounge area with pool tables, table tennis and vending machines, laundry facilities, communal reading room and study area and secure cycle storage. Additionally, the accommodation is managed by PRIMO Property Management, a student management company which has ANUK National Code Accreditation.

13 University of Salford The University of Salford offers a wide range of living accommodation. There are over 2,400 bedrooms available either on campus or within walking distance of the main campuses, providing a choice of self-catered accommodation for you to choose from. All sites are a short walking distance from the University campus and linked by a free term-time bus service. There are varying contract lengths to suit your needs and the length of your course,as well as family accommodation and adapted facilities for students with specific requirements. For further information please visit website: Other options If you choose to live away from home you may also find these websites useful: Please note: the above properties and web links are independent of Bury College University Centre and are the responsibility of the accommodation managers. It is your decision as to what meets your needs and your responsibility to work with the providers to negotiate your contract. You should always read your terms and conditions carefully, paying attention to any penalties incurred by cancelling your contract or collecting your deposit at the end of your contract.

14 Experience city life Bury College University Centre is ideally located in the town centre, which has excellent transport links that offer easy access to Manchester city centre and Bolton. Less than eight miles from the vibrant, welcoming city of Manchester, there is plenty to do in your spare time. Enjoy the lively nightlife, a host of places to eat, inspiring heritage and fantastic shopping! Nightlife and entertainment Manchester is host to a wide array of lively bars and clubs, so if you like indie or dance, cocktails or continental beers there s something for everyone! The trendy northern quarter has plenty on offer and is only a short walk from Piccadilly and Shudehill tram stops, whilst there are many clubs dotted around the city centre that cater for all music tastes and budgets. These websites offer useful information about places to go: Eating out There are many places to eat out during your time at Bury College University Centre. Bury s Rock development houses Nandos, Frankie and Benny s and Pizza Express. There are also Italian and Indian restaurants alongside a cluster of bars that offer food in the town centre. If you re heading into Manchester, there are over 100 restaurants, bars and cafés that cater for a range of tastes from Indian, Italian, Mexican and Spanish to traditional pub grub. For an authentic Chinese meal head to Manchester s China town!

15 Music venues and theatres The Manchester Arena is the largest indoor arena in Europe, attracting over one million visitors each year. The Apollo, Manchester Academy, The Ritz, Bridgewater Hall, the Roadhouse, Ruby Lounge and Night and Day Café also attract a range of musicians and acts throughout the year. If theatre is more your thing the Palace Theatre and the Opera House in Manchester or Bolton s Octagon Theatre offer many plays and productions. Closer to home, Bury s MET theatre plays host to a variety of plays, musicians and comedians. Check out for a full listing. Arts and culture Rich in galleries and places to see, the North West offers you all of the following: Manchester Art Gallery The Whitworth Art Gallery The Chinese Arts Centre Manchester Craft and Design Centre The Lowry The Football Museum The Manchester Museum Manchester Science and Industry Museum Manchester Cathedral Bury Art Museum Bolton Museum and Archive Bolton Aquarium

16 What to expect whilst studying A typical week on a full-time university course will include approximately 14 hours spent in classes, with additional hours to be spent doing independent research and study. Part-time students may spend between 4-8 hours of their time in tutor-led classes. Whilst many courses require you to work independently outside of lectures, please be assured our supportive tutors will be on hand throughout your time with us to advise and provide one-to-one feedback. University course reps Bury College University Centre knows that course reps play a very important part in representing students views and helping to keep standards high. As a course rep you will have the chance to voice not just your own views, but also act as a spokesperson for everyone else on your course. This gives you the opportunity to make a real impact and help make the experience for all university learners even better. You will pick up important skills such as: Problem solving Researching the views of others Working as part of a team Communication Clearly putting across your views Presentation skills Building on your self-confidence Supporting you You will benefit from a personal approach and one-to-one feedback that allows you to achieve your full potential. Our enthusiastic tutors bring a breadth of industry experience to lectures to ensure you are well prepared for your first step into the workplace.

17 University qualifications the facts More than a quarter of top graduate programmes will pay new recruits more than 35,000 when they start work and four organisations are offering salaries in excess of 45,000 to this year s graduates. ( 2015) Graduates are more likely to work in high skilled posts than non-graduates. (Office for National Statistics) An estimated 115,000 students are studying their degree courses at FE colleges. ( Graduates were more likely to be employed, less likely to be searching for work and less likely to be out of the labour force (inactive) than those people with lower qualifications or no qualifications. (2013 Office for National Statistics) Please visit What do I need to do before I start? Accept your offer of a place. If you are a full-time student, once you have received your offer from us you will need to let UCAS know you wish to accept. UCAS will let you know the deadline by which you need to choose your FIRM (first choice) and INSURANCE (second choice) place of study. UCAS will then notify us. Apply for student finance online at: Work out what your living costs will be including cost of books, equipment etc. for your course and plan a weekly budget. Do research on student bank accounts. Think about getting a summer job to help you save money! Follow us on twitter and facebook for all our latest news.

18 Keep in touch. We are here to help! If you need further information about studying at Bury College University Centre please contact us: Tim Robson Director of Higher Education Lorraine Whittaker Higher Education Administrator Interested? Contact us on: Good luck with your studies and exams, we look forward to seeing you in September.

19 Useful links and contacts: Student finance Money Saving Expert student-loans-tuition-fees-changes student-bank-account Discounts and student union NUS (National Union of Students) Travel

20 /BuryCollegeUniCentre Enterprise Centre, Market Street, Bury BL9 0DS (M363) Produced by the Marketing Team. Printed by Browns