Student Support
We are committed to supporting every student and providing you with individual guidance to help you maximise your potential, achieve your goals and get where you want to go.
Code of Conduct
On joining the College, all students are asked to sign up to the Code of Conduct, which sets out the standards expected of students for: attendance and punctuality; learning; behaviour; consideration for others; and contribution to society.
Your Personal Tutor
You will have a Personal Tutor, who will support you throughout your course. You will meet your tutor for one-to-one tutorials. Together you will discuss your progress and how best to organise your learning to help you succeed on your chosen programme. Your tutor is always available for guidance and to help you resolve any concerns.
Reviews and Parents’ Evenings
You will have the opportunity to review your progress regularly while at College. During your first few weeks with us, you and your tutor will discuss how you are settling in and whether your programme is satisfactory. Your progress, in all your subjects, is reviewed in the autumn and spring terms, and you will receive feedback on achievement of targets.
Parents/Carers will receive a copy of reviews and are invited to attend a Parents’ Evening during the year. In addition, the College holds a New Parents’ Evening in September to provide information about all aspects of College life, and answer any questions they may have. Your parents/carers are welcome to contact the College at any time to discuss your progress or welfare.
Careers
What next? You may decide to choose employment, a gap year or higher education.
Our Careers Programme introduces you to a very wide range of opportunities in all these areas, providing information on topics including Personal Statements and CVs and how to research job opportunities. Individual appointments with a Careers Adviser, practice interviews, work experience and support from your Personal Tutor will all help you to move on to higher education or employment at the end of your course.
Students considering applying for Oxford or Cambridge Universities, or those who wish to pursue a career in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science have the opportunity to enhance their chances of success through the College’s Pre-U course. The aim of the Pre-U course is to further develop more able students, many of whom progress every year onto high flying career paths.
You will have the opportunity to benefit from:
- A College organised careers conference
- Advice on making UCAS and job applications
- Interview practice
- A series of lectures and workshops where you will be encouraged to think more critically and to explore ethical and moral issues
- A range of external courses and events to broaden your knowledge and provide essential background information
Connexions Careers Advisers also visit the College to advise on local employment opportunities.
Getting help is easy. You can drop into the Careers Suite at any time or, through the College intranet, access up-to-the-minute careers information from any work station in the College. Parents/Carers are encouraged to attend our annual Higher Education Evening to find out more about opportunities, how to apply and the financial help available.
Equality and Diversity
Central Sussex College believes in fairness and access for all, in celebrating diversity and preventing discriminatory behaviour.
Difficulties with learning?
The College offers a wide range of learning support, which is available to all students. Specialist tutors will assess your individual needs to ensure that you have equal access to the curriculum, especially if you have physical disabilities or learning difficulties. Learning Support Assistants provide one-to-one help within the classroom, where appropriate, and subject tutors are always available to help you in particular subject areas.
Disability
The College is committed to ensuring that those with disabilities or learning difficulties are not disadvantaged when making an application to study with us. All reasonable adjustments will be made to provide access to our learning programmes, including the provision of equipment and specialist support, where this is required.
You are encouraged to disclose any disability or learning difficulty you may have on your application form, so that we can offer the support that you need.
Accommodation
Although the College does not have Halls of Residence, we can offer rooms within family homes on either a full-board or self-catering basis, subject to availability. For further details of this service please contact our Student Support team on 01293 442269.The College is committed to ensuring that those with disabilities or learning difficulties are not disadvantaged when making an application to study with us. All reasonable adjustments will be made to provide access to our learning programmes including the provision of equipment and specialist support, where this is required.
You are encouraged to disclose any disability or learning difficulty you may have on your application form so that we can offer the support that you need.
Financial help
If you are experiencing difficulties with fees, or other costs associated with study, there are various sources of help that may be available:
Student Bursary Fund
If you are aged 16-18 years you may be entitled to a Bursary payment to help with costs such as travel to College, trips, books and equipment. To qualify you must be resident in the UK and meet the eligibility criteria, which will include evidence of a genuine financial barrier to staying on in education. For more information about the Bursary scheme contact Student Support on 01444 446820 or visit www.direct.gov.uk
EMA
The EMA scheme closed to new applicants in January 2011. The College has a Bursary fund to help if you are starting a course and face financial hardship. For more information call Student Support on 01444 446820.
Discretionary Support Funds
If you are aged 19 and over the fund is available to help with costs, to include childcare, transport and equipment essentials whilst in learning, and is prioritised for those who face financial hardship. For more information and advice about the help available contact Student Support on 01444 446820.
Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
The Adult Learning Grant is no longer available and forms part of the Discretionary Learner Support Fund.
Non UK EU Students
If you are a student from another EU country and can apply for financial help towards costs through Student Finance England, depending on your circumstances you may qualify for help with tuition fees only, or help with tuition fees, living costs and other expenses. For more information visit www.direct.gov or contact Student Support on 01444 446820.
Free study at Level 2 and 3
If you’re over the age of 19 and you’re studying for your first full Level 2 qualification (either full or part-time), tuition and exam fees are free. You still have to pay the College’s administration fee and any other costs (eg. for trips and materials). In addition, if you are aged between 19 and 24 studying your first full Level 3 qualification (either full or part-time), tuition and exam fees are also free. You still have to pay the College’s administration fee and any other costs (eg. for trips and materials). Please contact Student Support for further information.
Care to Learn
If you’re over 16 but under 20 and would like to study at the College, your registered childcare costs can be paid for you by ‘Care to Learn’. Call Care to Learn on 0845 600 2809 for more details.
There may be other sources of financial support for childcare, accommodation, course fees, etc. Please contact Student Support for more information on
01444 446820.
Course costs - Charging Policy
The College will not charge enrolment, tuition or first examination fees for 16-18 year old students (at 31st August in year of entry), or those up to 25 years old on their first Level 2 or Level 3 course of study, who have been resident in an EU/EEA country during the past three years.
The College will ask students to contribute towards the cost of optional enrichment activities such as theatre visits, residential field courses, conferences or study trips (in the UK and abroad), equipment, specialist clothing and course materials.
For more information about the costs associated with studying a particular course, please refer to the more detailed subject information, which can be found on our website at www.centralsussex.ac.uk.
Charges will apply to student photocopying and computer printing, in excess of the allocated amount.
Where attendance and production of coursework are satisfactory, the College will pay examination fees. The College will charge examination fees when either of these is unsatisfactory and when a student chooses to re-sit examination units.
Students aged over 25 (at 31st August in year of entry) will normally be charged enrolment, examination and tuition fees unless they qualify for exemptions - please contact the College for further information.
We are keen that no student should be prevented from enrolling at the College, or taking part in enrichment activities, because of financial constraints. We may be able to provide assistance to meet these expenses in appropriate cases. In addition, you may be eligible for a Student Bursary, see details above in the Financial help section.
