At Uxbridge College our priority is preparing our learners for a fantastic future. Our courses not only give learners the skills they need to succeed, we also provide a package of experiences to equip them for life after college. Choosing a college is a big decision, but it is also a very exciting time. There are lots of things that make a great college experience including the course, the facilities, the support on offer, the social side of student life and the opportunities learners have after they finish their course. We know these things are important and we continually invest in the College to ensure that our learners can access the very best advice, support and facilities to help them succeed. We want our learners to enjoy the time they spend with us, get a great qualification and go on to be successful in their chosen field, whether they go on to study higher education, or start a great career. Good luck with your future plans and I hope to see you on the campus very soon. Laraine Smith OBE Principal and CEO Uxbridge College has been established since 1965, and has been the No.1 College in west London for a number of years. The College is a publicly funded government College, and has continued to maintain its Highly Trusted Status on the Tier 4 Register of Sponsors since 2009. The College also has an “outstanding” Ofsted rating for its standards, the highest possible grade government inspectors can give. Uxbridge College welcomes students from all over the world, providing international students with a great range of English language, Pre-University and Pathway to Degree courses. The College equips students with the skills needed to prepare for further study at university, or to go out into the workplace. We care about our students’ success and offer the right teaching and support needed to help them achieve their qualifications. Uxbridge College has some of the highest student success rates in London, offering fantastic classroom support, and helping students acquire the right skills to make the next move, be that into Higher Education or into employment. We have spent over £60 million in the last few years upgrading and improving our classrooms, specialist facilities and social spaces to provide students with a top-class environment for their studies. Student safety and welfare is important at Uxbridge College, and the College is dedicated to creating an environment where all individuals have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, and gain a feeling of self-esteem for and from all others. Uxbridge College is based on two modern campuses at the cosmopolitan cities in the world and located in pleasant heart of west London’s multicultural community - Uxbridge rural surroundings. It’s only 20 kilometres from central and Hayes – both of which are based in outer London. London with direct underground train links, so students The area around Uxbridge is multi-culturally diverse and can enjoy the great range of attractions and activities that most nationalities find a ‘home from home’ community London has to offer. while they are here. The campuses are a 20 minute drive from one of the UK’s major international airports – Heathrow, and are easily accessible via several other major transport routes. The College is close to one of the most London Airports London is served by four major international airports. Uxbridge College is easily accessible via major routes and is only seven miles from London Heathrow. A Successful College Uxbridge College is one of the most successful further education colleges in the UK. Our success rates are among the highest in London, and our most recent Ofsted inspection judged Uxbridge College to be ‘outstanding’. We also continue to maintain our Highly Trusted Sponsor status on the UKBA Register of Tier 4 Sponsors. Expert Staff Our staff are highly qualified, with industry experience, so students can learn the skills employers demand from industry experts. They can share their knowledge about the area or industry they have worked in and give practical tips and advice so that students can make the most of their study. A Safe and Welcoming College We take every step to ensure student safety, health and wellbeing. We welcome students whatever their background and previous experience. Getting Results You need qualifications that get you places. Whether students want to go onto further study at the College or at university, or go straight into work, we’ll help them get there! Two Well-Located Campuses The College is based on two campuses – Uxbridge and Hayes. Both are only 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport, making it an ideal place for international students to study. The campuses are near to town centres and have excellent transport links. Fantastic Facilities Over the last few years more than £60m has been invested to ensure the campuses at Uxbridge and Hayes provide top quality teaching spaces, social areas and sports facilities. Curriculum Support Uxbridge College provides a range of Pre-University & Pathway to Degree courses that can help students gain entry into university. If a student is seeking a career in the medical, engineering, business or computing professions, we can provide courses that suit their needs and aspirations. An Affordable University Education in London Our Pathway to Degree Programmes are a flexible way to study university level courses at an affordable price. In 2012/2013, 93% of our international students progressed directly into the third year of a degree course on completion of one of these courses. Supporting Success With UCAN – the Uxbridge College Advice Network – help is on hand whenever it is needed. Our dedicated staff offer support to help students with both personal issues, and with advice throughout their studies about moving on to Higher Education or into the world of work. Get Involved Students want more than just great facilities and top quality teaching – they want to make the most out of student life and have some fun too. All of our international students are invited to take part in our volunteering scheme, relax in social areas and get involved in a wide range of activities. The below table shows how Uxbridge College London compares to other publicly funded government colleges in west London. 2012/13 success rate data published West London Colleges only Rank Ages Name of College *Success % order 1 Uxbridge College 86.6 2 West Thames College 85.9 16-18 3 Harrow College 80.9 4 Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College 79. 3 5 Stanmore College 77.8 1 West Thames College 87.0 2 Uxbridge College 85.5 19+ 3 College of North West London 83.0 4 Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College 81.1 5 Harrow College 80.2 1 Uxbridge College 86.4 2 West Thames College 86.3 All ages 3 Harrow College 80.7 4 Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College 80.0 5 College of North West London 79.8 * data sourced from the Skills Funding Agency on FE Choices Highly Trusted Status Uxbridge College continues to maintain its Highly Trusted Status on the UK Border Agency’s Tier 4 Register of Sponsors for a fourth consecutive year – making it one of the best colleges in London for international students to study at. Ofsted Outstanding Following the one-week visit in May 2008, inspectors from the government’s education inspection body Ofsted gave the College the highest possible accolade for its standards, and judged Uxbridge College to be ‘Outstanding’ - the highest possible result that they can give. National Kitemark for Science and Engineering Uxbridge College has been recognised for excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) with a national kitemark. The prestigious STEM Assured Status is awarded to those who can demonstrate that they provide high quality and employer-led training in the subjects. Beacon Status Uxbridge College has been awarded ‘Beacon Status’ for providing outstanding education and training. This accolade is given to colleges, sixth-forms and private training firms which have proved they are run to the highest standard and offer excellent education and work-related training. Matrix Standard Uxbridge College has achieved the Matrix quality of service kitemark which is the UK’s national quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and guidance on learning and work. Investors in People Uxbridge College was assessed and achieved the Investor in People award in June 2007 and was successfully reaccredited in 2013. The award demonstrates that the College has been recognised as continuing to meet the requirements of the national standard for effective investment in people. In the last few years, Uxbridge College has spent over £60m updating and improving the classrooms, specialist facilities and social spaces for its students. The Learning Resources Centres These are based at both campuses and offer full library services including books, e-books, and access to a huge online resources network, DVDs, newspapers, journals, trade Students studying at both the Uxbridge and Hayes magazines and audio visual resources. The centres have silent Campus can expect to learn in well-equipped and group study areas and IT suites providing open access to classrooms with smartboards. In addition, all of the computers to help with studies. vocational courses have industry-standard facilities to provide students with a realistic working environment. These facilities include: art & fashion studios science labs engineering workshops theatre dance studios music studios light and sound gallery sound proofed audio & film studios media control & editing suite green screen for CGI & 3D filming mac labs high-speed computers CISCO training suite forensic science equipment E-learning These first-class facilities are available on both campuses. indoor sports hall There are over 200 open access PCs for use around the outdoor sports pitches College, staffed by a team of 10 e-Learning Assistants.