Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for a place on a course?

Choose a course from the prospectus. If you are not sure which course is best for you e-mail, fax or write to us for advice.

Fill in the application form and post or bring to the address below, together with:

• Photocopies of any relevant certificates of qualifications you may have
• A 50% deposit for your course of which £1000 is non-refundable; this retention reflects the activity and risk the College undertakes when processing each application

We will acknowledge your application usually within 3 working days. For this purpose please provide your contact email address on your application form if you have one.

If you fulfil all necessary entry requirements for your chosen course of study, we will send you a Certificate of Acceptance of study.

We reserve the right to test your English on arrival to check it is of the standard required for your course. If not up to standard you will be required to study English first.

You will need to provide proof of English at the relevant level - See the UKBA website

However, if you do not fulfil the necessary entry requirements, we will send you an Offer Acceptance Form for either: A conditional place stating the exam results required for course entry, OR an offer of a place on an alternative course.

We require 50% of a course fee to be paid before a course starts of which £1000 is non-refundable (applies to all courses); this retention reflects the activity and risk the College undertakes when processing each application.

We strongly advise you to pay your fees in full in order to obtain your student visa. However, it is also possible to pay your fees in instalments; this is called a Fee Spread.

For September start courses two post-dated cheques are required on the following dates: 31st October and 31st January. For all other start date courses, different dates will be given.

Please return completed application form together with required documentation to:

Skills for Life, International Admissions, Central Sussex College, College Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1NR, United Kingdom

2. How do I send the fee to the College?

You may send it to the College by post. You can pay by a Sterling Bankers Draft (cheque) from your bank OR you may pay by Automated Bank Credit (provided on request).
Alternatively if you have a relative / friend / sponsor living locally they can come in to the college to pay in person by cash, cheque or credit card (we accept all credit cards except American Express, Electron and Solo cards) at Central Sussex College between 9.00-17.00 Mon – Thurs.

3. How to apply for a Adult Student Tier 4 (general) VISA?

Before coming to Britain you must go to the British Embassy or High Commission in order to obtain Entry Clearance, if you are not from the EU / EEA or have right of abode in the UK.

To gain a Adult Student Tier 4 (general) visa, applicants will have to score points against two sets of objective criteria with an overall pass mark of 40 points:

You will also need to show the following:

• a current passport or travel document;
• a visa letter from a licensed sponsor;
• documents to show you have the right finances (maintenance) available;
• documents used by your sponsors when they accepted you on to the course;
• your ID card if you are applying from inside the United Kingdom;
• your biometric details if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom.
• proof of your level of English as per UKBA guidelines

The finances you need to pass the points-based assessment are:

Also for courses which are 6 months or less it is possible to apply for a Student Visitor Visa which is not part of the Points Based System. For this type of visa you will need to register on a course at the college and after payment we would send you the enrolment form and a letter confirming your place which you would need to apply for your visa. Your entitlements on this visa are the same as a normal Visitor Visa. There is also an Extended Student Visit or for a period of 11 months for students wanting to study English below B1 of CEFR.

There are some very good websites to visit for further information on entry clearance/visas:

www.britishcouncil.org.uk or www.fco.gov.uk or www.ukvisa.org.uk

4. Will you accept my qualifications from my country?

Yes – we just ask that you send copies of your certificates and full details of your examinations to us. Then we get your qualifications officially translated to UK equivalents by an organisation called UK NARIC - www.naric.org.uk.

5. When do the courses start?

Most of the FE/HE courses start at the beginning of September each year and finish in July. However, you may join English courses at any time during the year.

6. What level of English do I need to do a FE/HE course at the College?

We want you to be successful in your FE/HE course so we will require a sufficient level of English before joining such a course.

It is important for you to prove your level of English is atthe required level given by the UKBA at your application stage. It will be necessary for us to use this information when applying for your CAS No; Please refer to the UKBA website for more information.

7. How much will it cost me to live and study in the UK?

The UKBA have published they require Student Visa holders to have either £600 or £800 per month for courses up to 12 months and either £7,200 or £9,600 for the first year depending where you study. This is (in addition to your tuition fees) to cover accommodation and food, books, clothing, travel expenses and other items.

8. What kind of College/Educational Institution are you?

Central Sussex College is a well-established Further Education College with Highly Trusted Sponsor status.

Central Sussex College offers a wide range of quality courses at all levels – undergraduate, vocational and university level.

The College also benefits from an accord agreement with the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton. Central Sussex College is an authorised exam centre for these internationally recognised exams. It is a Government College accredited by the British Council, regularly inspected by the Learning Skills Council and a full member of English UK.

9. Where is the College located?

Central Sussex College is located in the beautiful county of Sussex. Sussex is famous for its lovely countryside, beaches and coastline as well as places of historical interest such as Arundel Castle and the lovely seaside city of Brighton. Crawley itself boasts good leisure facilities and has many beautiful parklands and gardens both within Crawley and in the surrounding area. It is about 30 miles from London and only 5 miles from London Gatwick airport.

10. Will I be able to find a part-time job?

If you have a Tier 4 Adult student visa you are allowed to work for 20 hours per week if on a Higher Education course and 10 hours per week if on a further education course in term time and more hours in the vacation periods. There are many job opportunities in Crawley and at Gatwick Airport, particularly in the hotel, catering and service industries.

11. What support services does the College offer?

The College has many support services including:

• Library
• Computer centre - free internet for students
• Counsellor
• Accommodation service
• Careers service
• Student support
• An International Student Adviser

12. Do you have any scholarships available for international students?

No, Central Sussex College is not able to offer scholarships to overseas students. However the British Council website has very useful information re: scholarships. www.britishcouncil.org

13. If I need help e.g. opening a bank account who can help me?

The International Student Adviser will do everything possible to help you, providing letters for banks, visas etc. and can give you information on a large range of subjects.

14. How can I contact you?

Please go to our contact page to view all your options.