Bridgend College: Information for Full-time Students
Bridgend College offers 70 vocational courses across a range of subject areas that offer theory and practice, and also include an element of work experience or hands-on practice. They are designed in collaboration with industry, so that you are equipped with the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for.
Bridgend College full-time courses are offered across all four of our campuses:
Bridgend Campus: This is where most of you will attend your classes. It's a busy site so be prepared for the hustle and bustle! You will mix with a wide range of students studying courses ranging from electrical engineering to furniture design to professional catering.
The campus benefits from being close to Bridgend Town Centre, the Bridgend Recreation Centre and other local amenities.
Pencoed Campus: Sport, Public Services, Land Based and Construction are based in Pencoed. Our new, state of the art, £6.5 million Construction Academy opened here at the start of 2010.
This campus benefits from a lot of open space and greenery, including a nine hole golf course, paddocks and several rugby and football pitches.
The Centre for New Media Enterpriseis also situated at this site, which allows Media and Photography students students to enjoy the very best, industry standard resources.
Maesteg Campus: This campus provides courses for the local community and offers IT provision.
Apply Now
Courses fill fast - so make sure you apply early!
To download an application form, please click here: http://www.bridgend.ac.uk/assets/Uploads/Documents/Students/Application-Form-26-01-10.pdf
or alternatively contact our Student Services team or call into reception.
Once you have returned your application, you will be invited to attend an interview held at the campus where you will attend your course. All interviews are informal and simply an opportunity for us to get to know you better. You may be required to undertake a practical test or audition for some courses. You will be informed of this in your interview invite letter. Usually, you will be advised at the end of the interview if you have been successful in gaining a place on the course.
If successful in gaining a place on the course, you must complete the on-line enrolment process at the beginning of term. You will officially become a student at
Tuition Fees
No tuition fees are payable by Full-time education students who are UK/European residents. You may also enrol on our part-time courses free of charge.
Education Maintenance Allowance
An EMA is an allowance of up to £30 per week (paid fortnightly) for students aged 16, 17 and 18 and continuing in Further Education from September. Payments will be received directly into your bank account.
Payment may not be made until later in the term (depending on when you are approved by EMA), but will be backdated to the beginning of term, providing your application has been received within eight weeks of your start date.
EMA is paid in addition to other support and benefits provided by the government. Your family won't lose out on other money if you get an EMA. It will not affect your parents child benefit. It won't affect any money you earn from a part-time job either.
EMA Application Packs are now available for collection from our Student Services Teams, at our Bridgend and Pencoed campuses. Alternatively, we can send one out to you, contact us:
Tel: 01656 302491
E-mail: ema@bridgend.ac.uk
Or download an application/guidance notes from: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
Following approval by EMA Wales, and before any payment can be authorised, students must complete a Bridgend College Learning Agreement. This is done once you have enrolled as a student - call into Student Services to sign your Bridgend College Learning Agreement in September.
The deadline for EMA applications is 31st August 2011.
Student Access Fund
The Bridgend College Student Access Fund may be able to help students in difficult circumstances, who might otherwise be prevented from undertaking or continuing with their course.
Full-time Further Education students studying at any of the College's campuses may apply for such assistance. Help may be given towards transport costs, meals, childcare, books, equipment and any protective equipment required for your course.
Closing date for applications is: 23rd September 2011
To find out if you are eligible and to receive a Student Access Fund Application Form, contact the Access Fund Co-ordinator:
Tel: 01656 302484
E-mail: studentaccessfund@bridgend.ac.uk
Assembly Learning Grant (ALG)
If you are 19 years of age or over on 31st August 2011, prior to the start of your course, and study for at least 275 hours per academic year (if you are unsure of your contact hours, ask your course tutor) on a Further Education programme, you may be eligible for an ALG of up to £1,500. This is a grant available from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Following approval, students must go to Student Services (at either Bridgend or Pencoed Campuses) to complete a Bridgend College Learning Agreement, before any ALG payments are authorised.
For further information about the ALG and to see if you are eligible, contact the ALG Co-ordinator:
Tel: 01656 302364
E-mail: alg@bridgend.ac.uk
or get in touch with your Local Education Authority (in your local Borough Council) or the Student Loan Company Tel: 0845 6028845.
Student Meal Subsidy
You are able to claim meal subsidy if you are aged 16-18 on the 1st September 2011, are enrolled on a full-time further education course, and your parents/guardians are in receipt of one of the following:-
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- (Income related) Employment Support Allowance (ESA(IR)
- Child Tax Credit (with an annual income below £16,040)
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Please note that if you or your parents/guardians are in receipt of Working Tax Credit then you do not qualify. Please be aware that if you are experiencing financial hardship, all applications are considered on an individual basis.
A Meal Subsidy entitles you, the student, to food/drink to the value of £2.50 per day from the College Refectory.
To apply for meal subsidy you need to complete an Access Fund form, which are available from Bridgend and Pencoed Student Services.
Following completion of the Access Fund form it is the responsibility of the student to check with Student Services at the start of term to determine their eligibility for meal subsidy.
Student Union
Eah year, elections are held for the Student Union Executive Team. In addition, there is a student representative on th Board of Governors and there are also student representatives on a range of College committees.
All full time students are automatically members of the Student Union. Student Union Cards (NUS Extra Cards), which will entitle students to discounts at many stores, e.g. McDonalds, Ticketmaster, Odeon, Pizza Hut and Amazon amongst others.
Legally, the College must make it clear that students do not have to participate in Students Union activities and the College must take reasonable steps to ensure that students who choose not to join in are not educationally disadvantaged.
Student Council
The College belongs to you, so every September all students have the opportunity to get involved in decision making by electing to become Student Academic Representatives, StARs as they are known. Helping improve the College experience for everyone is the major goal and a further opportunity exists for students who wish to stand for election to join the College Student Council. In addition, there are two positions available to become student representatives on the Board of Governors, one for Further Education and one for Higher Education.
