PROSPECTUS 2021 PROSPECTUS 2021 WHY STRANMILLIS? SATISFACTION STUDENT RETENTION WORK-BASED PLACEMENT GLOBAL CAMPUS Joint number 1 in Northern Stranmillis has one of the 100% of our students undertake Learn with and from Ireland for student satisfaction highest student retention an extensive programme of work students from over 20 (NSS). rates (98%) in the UK. placements. different countries. STUDY ABROAD ECO CAMPUS STRAN HALLS RESEARCH EXCELLENCE QUALITY ASSURED 32% of our students The College is the first HEI Unique catered 72% of research outputs QAA assessment reaffirmed undertake a study abroad in Northern Ireland to be accommodation and affordable deemed internationally excellent the highest quality of teaching experience. awarded EcoCampus status. student living. (REF 2014). and learning. 2 CONNECTING GLOBALLY SHAPING EDUCATION UNLOCKING POTENTIAL BUILDING FUTURES 3 PROSPECTUS 2021 CONTENTS SHAPING EDUCATION IS THE YOUR WORLD MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD. Nelson Mandela LIVE WORK Education impacts every one of us and has the power to Your Home Away from Home 6 An Investment in Your Future 28 Your Belfast 8 Bursaries and Scholarships 30 transform the lives of children, young people, families and whole communities. Stranmillis University College has a long heritage STUDY COURSES and reputation for leading and driving innovation in education. Space for You 10 Explore Our Courses 32 For almost 100 years, we have been at the forefront of education research, Supporting You 12 Entrance Requirements 33 scholarship and teaching; shaping educational best and next practice, unlocking the potential of children and young people and building better Your Students’ Union 14 BEd Primary 34 futures for all. What Our Students Say 16 BEd Post-Primary 36 Your Learning Environment 20 BSc Health, Physical Activity At Stranmillis, our teaching, our scholarship, our research and our approach Shaping, Unlocking, Building 22 and Sport 42 are focused on equipping you with the skills, knowledge and experience to Broadening Your Horizons 24 BA Early Childhood Studies 44 become an outstanding educator. Those transferable skills, and the ability to Shaping Your Future 26 PGCE Early Years Education 44 communicate, inspire and innovate, make our graduates highly sought after in Foundation Degrees 50 various fields, within education and many other sectors. M-level Study 54 Our exceptional academic team and support staff are passionate about education; a passion to inspire you, challenge you and support you to become NEXT a creative thinker and learning leader. Application and Admission 56 Stranmillis is a specialist institution, but one that is making a big impact globally. Choosing to study at Stranmillis opens up a world of opportunities. Shape your world, and help shape a better future for all, with us. Professor Anne Heaslett PRINCIPAL 4 5 PROSPECTUS 2021 LOCATION Our six halls of residence are located on campus, providing safe, YOUR HOME secure student accommodation. Set in 18 hectares of stunning grounds on the banks of the AWAY FROM River Lagan, Stran Halls are conveniently located in the Queen’s student quarter, within walking HOME distance of everything Belfast has to offer and with excellent access to rail and bus networks. Breakfast and Living in student halls can be one dinner 7 days of the best and most memorable a week experiences of university life, especially FOOD when you are studying in a vibrant ROOMS Stran Halls is catered, taking the hassle out of city like Belfast. Open to students from Stran Halls has 469 modern, cooking, washing up and fully furnished, single occupancy any university or college, Stran Halls trips to the supermarket, bedrooms with a choice of offers a unique, catered, student living leaving you more time for shared or ensuite bathrooms socialising and studying. package that allows you to make the and access to communal kitchen Catering includes a cooked facilities. All bed linen is supplied most of your time at university. breakfast and 3-course and laundered on a weekly evening meal, seven days basis and communal areas, such a week (term-time) in • 469 fully furnished single bedrooms as showers, are cleaned daily. ‘Chatz’ restaurant. • Breakfast and dinner, 7 days a week If you and your friends want (term-time) bedrooms close to each other, • 37/38 week contracts we’ll arrange it! • All utility bills included • High speed WiFi in room • Bed linen supplied and laundered • 2 FREE evening short classes AFFORDABLE LIVING • FREE gym membership (£20 enrolment Bed, food, utilities, WiFi and extra fee applies) benefits such as gym membership and • Cleaning of communal areas free evening short courses; Stran Halls has it covered. The most affordable • Extensive on-campus facilities student halls package, Stran Halls is the only halls accommodation in Belfast that allows you to live within the maximum maintenance grant when living away from home. 6 7 PROSPECTUS 2021 CULTURED A city full of heritage, culture and craic, Belfast is now a tourist hotspot and has been ranked the number one place to visit by YOUR Lonely Planet and Best UK City by the Guardian and Observer. BELFAST Voted the best place to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, and one of the least expensive cities in the UK to live in, Belfast is the perfect place to study. With the campus located just 1.5 miles from the city centre, everything Belfast has to offer is on your doorstep. £ WELCOMING AFFORDABLE Famed for its humour and Belfast has the lowest cost LIVELY of living in the UK (Mercer) warm welcome, Belfast is a and the lowest student rent of Compact, vibrant and dynamic, Belfast is lauded by city that welcomes you with any city in the UK (NatWest Lonely Planet for its energy, lively atmosphere and its open arms and has been Student Living Index). ‘dynamic young population that keeps the city on trend.’ ranked as the second safest city in the world. BUZZING Entertainment, food, music, nightlife. From the cobblestone streets of the Cathedral Quarter to the waterfront and entertainment hub of the Titanic Quarter; the student heartbeat of Queen’s Quarter to the clubs, pubs and shopping of the city centre, Belfast has it all and more. 8 9 PROSPECTUS 2021 STUDY Over the past couple of years, the College SPACE has invested heavily in creating world-class teaching and learning spaces. Our virtual learning environment, interactive teaching FOR YOU technologies, library and study resources as well as integrated communication systems are designed to help you succeed and ensure The Stranmillis campus is a place that you have everything you need for formal, of remarkable beauty and interest. group and independent study. Listed buildings and modern teaching spaces; beautiful grounds with ponds, woodlands and open green spaces; RELAX UNWIND great facilities to help you develop When you walk through the When it’s time to unwind, your sporting, art, drama or musical gates of the College, it is easy Betty’s coffee shop, forget that you are so close Scholars Bar, Cyber-Tub, talents; and social spaces to eat, drink to the heart of Belfast. Set Chatz and the Students’ and enjoy some downtime with friends in 18 hectares of woodland, Union are lively social combine to create a unique campus the campus is a peaceful, spaces to meet and spend conservation-designated time with friends. If you and community for you to study, relax, haven that has been awarded are looking for something unwind and express yourself. EcoCampus status. Whether it’s a bit more active, you can for a walk to clear your mind or hit the gym, sports hall or finding a peaceful spot to simply dance studio or enrol in sit back and relax, the campus one of the many health is a stunning canvas to explore and fitness short courses and enjoy. available on campus. EXPRESS If you have a passion for art, design, music or drama, the College has specialist resources to enable you to express yourself and develop ECO CAMPUS your talents. Facilities include a 260-seat drama theatre, a music suite with extensive recital The College is first HEI and individual practice rooms and dedicated in Northern Ireland to studios for ceramics, textiles, art and design; be awarded EcoCampus and if you love performing, there are a wealth of status. opportunities to showcase your talents from panto to choir, Stran does Strictly to Music@Stran. 10 11 PROSPECTUS 2021 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES SUPPORTING Our friendly, experienced team offer a broad range of health, well-being, academic and YOU personal support services including: • Disability Support We recognise that no two students • Communication Support Centre are the same. Whilst many students • Counselling and Wellbeing Services will never need to use the services • Occupational Health and referral to provided by our Student Support team, specialised support if you do, the team is on hand to help • Student finance guidance and support, CHAPLAINCY provide a listening ear, whether it’s including money matters, bursaries and scholarships. The College has a strong for support with personal or health ethos of diversity and mutual concerns, studies or financial guidance. understanding and pastoral care, and our chaplains COMMUNICATIONS welcome and provide pastoral support to students from all SKILLS CENTRE faiths, denominations, beliefs The Centre provides individual and group and backgrounds. tuition to help and support students develop their writing and communication skills. The Centre is staffed by trained peer tutors. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Our Disability Support Service offers guidance and signposting to relevant internal and external support and PEER MENTORING resources for students with a disability or Who better to and help you settle in to specific learning college life than a fellow student? All difficulty. freshers are allocated a peer mentor, who is a current student on a similar degree programme.