Mature Student? You’re in good company
There is no typical mature student. Some students come to us after a career, starting a family, and finding new interests later in life. If you have had a break from education, returning to study might seem both exciting and daunting.
At Farnborough, you can relax knowing you will not be alone and will get lots of support from our dedicated staff.
Our classes are made up of people aged 18 and over from lots of different backgrounds and walks of life. Students have told us they become good friends with their classmates and feel reassured knowing there are others in a similar position.
We have a network of support services that can help you to manage your time, and balance studying with work and family commitments. For example, taking advantage of our study spaces to complete assignments away from distractions at home. Plus, our library is open late two nights per week giving you more time to study. Depending on the course you are applying to, there may also be financial help available for tuition fees and study costs. Find out more at www.farn-ct.ac.uk/funding.
Feeling a bit rusty when it comes to studying?
If you’re lacking confidence or haven’t studied in a while you may want to consider starting your studies with one of our Access to Higher Education diplomas.
An Access to Higher Education course could help prepare you for your return to study and help you achieve the qualifications for a university-level course and is specifically designed for adults looking to progress to higher education.
Funding your Studies
Higher education is a major investment and working out how you’ll pay for it is a big part of deciding to study. One of the many ways in which we help our students to be successful is by making sure that we provide support for meeting the costs of studying for those who need it.
This could include:
- Our cash bursary available to many eligible students
- The student finance loan is for students starting their first Degree or Higher Education course. There are no upfront fees to be paid, there is no upper age limit for the loan and you don’t start repaying until you earn more than a certain amount each year
- The governments Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of an Access to higher education diploma
Find out more funding information here or by contacting us at 01252 407339 or emailing info@farn-ct.ac.uk.
Childcare Facilities
Our fun and friendly on-site nursery is very popular and has helped many students balance their childcare and study needs.
We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for children aged three months and older, meeting the individual needs of your child through our fully qualified and enthusiastic staff.
For more information or to arrange a visit, email bookworms@farn-ct.ac.uk or call 01252 407080.
Access for all and Accredited Prior Learning
Higher education is an option for all. Our typical entry requirements are measured in terms of the UCAS Tariff, but we welcome students from all backgrounds to apply as we value the work and life experiences students bring to our courses. This is why we offer places based not only on formal qualifications but also on individual merit and the ability to develop.
You could also jump forward and start a course in its final year if you have previous qualifications and/or work experience that show you are already learning and working at a certain level. This is called Accredited Prior Learning and you can read more about your options here.
Get in Touch
If you’re unsure if you meet the entry requirements for a course or if you have other commitments that you feel may affect how you study feel free to get in touch with us before enrolling on a course.
Our friendly admissions team is available on 01252 507028 or at admission@farn-ct.ac.uk. Alternatively, visit one of our Open Events to see our facilities, speak to tutors and ask any questions you might have about studying with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost for each course varies but is typically more affordable than traditional universities’ fees. Tuitions fees and other costs are listed on each course’s webpage. Click here to view our range of courses.
Thanks to a range of loans and bursaries, university-level courses are available to those from all backgrounds. Typically, students take out a tuition fee loan to cover their course fees. This covers the full cost of tuition, meaning there is no upfront fee to pay and your repayments will be based on your income after you finish your course, not what you borrowed. Plus, there is no age limit for tuition fee loans.
You can find out more about Student Finance loans and make an application here.
Your experience outside of the classroom may be as valuable as those in it, due to the fact many of our degrees are focused on a particular career.
You may have prior learning which could make it possible for you to join a degree in the final year, rather than in the first year. Often your experience through industry, or achievement of other qualifications, can count towards your degree – making it possible to graduate after just one year. Find out more here.
Our Access to Higher Education Diploma is also available to students who would benefit from honing their study skills or gaining enough experience to apply for a university-level course. You should not assume that university-level courses are not for you. Get in touch with us to explore your options!
As a student at Farnborough, you will be studying on a quiet campus with small class sizes, and if you studied at college here you will already know several of the teachers and classrooms too.
Some of our degrees are taught with part-time attendance, while our professional courses are taught in the evenings. Some of our courses are also tailored to fit around your work commitments too, be sure to ask us about how your work, family and study commitments can be balanced.
