Course Guide (Level 1 to 3) 2018/19 1 2 3 Welcome Congratulations on taking Whilst at the College you will If you already know what the next step towards most closely interact with subject you are interested in building on your education our professional teaching you will find more detailed and developing your future staff. All of our lecturers information on our website, career. You are joining the have specialist expertise so please make sure you visit College at an exciting period of in their subject areas and www.nrc.ac.uk to find out more. transformation as we progress many continue to work as through our Campus 21 professionals in industry. If you are still trying to decide development plans. This connection with industry on what to do next please make is important to us and as use of the careers service we We have carefully selected a College we work closely offer across our campuses. each of the courses listed in with businesses to ensure Why not come in and talk to one this guide as programmes that our provision is relevant of our careers advisors who can offer real value to our students and reflects the needs of discuss the options available to and are relevant to the needs employers. No matter what you? We would be delighted to of employers or to progression subject or qualification you see you. within education. Whether you choose, your course will are a recent school leaver, be geared towards helping I hope you find this guide useful or you are returning to study you to enhance your career and informative – and I look after time away, this guide prospects. forward to welcoming you as summarises the excellent student of Northern Regional opportunities available across College in September 2018. our six campuses. Professor Terri Scott Principal & Chief Executive 4 5 Contents 4 Welcome 7 Contents 9 Study at Northern Regional College 13 Open Days 14 Our Campuses 16 Facilities 19 Students’ Union 20 Supporting Students 22 How You Will Learn 25 Digital Learning 26 Qualifications 28 Guide to Qualifications and Levels 31 How to Apply 34 Fees and Funding 39 Entry Requirements 41 Courses 43 Antrim, CAFRE (Greenmount Campus) 44 Ballymena (Trostan Avenue) 48 Ballymena (Farm Lodge) 53 Ballymoney 56 Coleraine 61 Magherafelt 64 Newtownabbey 6 7 Study at Northern Regional College At Northern Regional College Excellent quality of you can shape the direction teaching and learning of your education and career. Our range of qualifications Many of our lecturers and wide selection of subject continue to work as industry areas gives you choice in your professionals and offer learning. Whether you want extensive knowledge and to work towards a trade or experience of their specialist progress to university you will area. find a course for your needs. We offer Apprenticeships Practical work-based with, GCSE equivalent structure courses (Level 2 BTEC Diploma) and A Level All courses are designed to equivalent courses (Level 3 provide you with the skills BTEC Extended Diploma) and required to meet the needs of Access to University courses. employers. *For details of our Training/Apprenticeships visit our website or collect a Work-based learning course guide from any campus reception. 8 9 Financial Support Modern equipment and facilities You may be eligible for a travel pass or other financial All subject areas are support such as EMA delivered with the latest (Education Maintenance equipment and facilities to Allowance), hardship meet industry standards. payments, childcare assistance. Student Finance staff are available to advise Progression you on other types of financial support you could access Our courses offer excellent while at the College. progression routes. Qualifications are available See website for details. from Level 1 through to Level 6 (Higher Education), all within the College. You can move onto more advanced qualifications in the same subject or into new areas. Excellent industry links The College has excellent links with local, national and international employers who provide students with valuable placement opportunities, guest lectures and site visits. 10 11 Open Days Open Days are a great opportunity to visit your local campus, speak to our friendly staff and find out more about our courses and facilities. All Campuses Saturday 3 February 2018 10am -1pm Ballymena (Farm Lodge and Trostan Avenue) Wednesday 7 February 2018 4pm – 8pm Ballymoney Thursday 8 February 2018 4pm – 8pm Coleraine Monday 5 February 2018 4pm – 8pm Magherafelt Tuesday 6 February 2018 4pm – 8pm Newtownabbey Wednesday 7 February 2018 4pm - 8pm 12 13 Our Ballycastle Campuses Coleraine Limavady Derry/Londonderry Ballymoney M2 Ballymena Larne Antrim M2 Magherafelt Carrickfergus Newtownabbey Cookstown Bangor Omagh Belfast Newtownards Lisburn M1 Enniskillen Armagh Banbridge Downpatrick 14 15 Newry Newcastle Kilkeel M1 M3 M2 M4 M6 M50 M11 M18 M8 M9 M11 Facilities Libraries Teaching Facilities Canteen Each campus has its own You will be taught with the library with access to PCs, equipment and facilities Each campus has a 35,000 printed books, needed to provide you with canteen offering a selection over 500 e-books and a high quality learning of affordable snacks, 20,000 electronic journals. experience in your subject sandwiches and meals. Dedicated library staff area. Our campuses are Meal deals, daily specials and will support you in using equipped with everything healthy options are available the library and in finding from standard teaching throughout the week. the resources you need to rooms to a wide variety of succeed on your course. specialist equipment including engineering, sports and Seating Areas fitness, car maintenance, beauty, graphic design and Comfortable seating areas science laboratories. are available around the campuses for meeting friends and relaxing outside Learning Online of class. Each campus has access to computers and printers. You Free Wi-Fi will also be able to access the College off-campus though Free Wi-Fi is available at the student portal and with a each campus. There are also College email address. Many designated Wi-Fi hotspots subject areas also deliver in each library for personal teaching online which you can devices. access on or off campus. 16 17 Students’ Union All College students As a member of the automatically become Students’ Union, you members of the Students’ will be able to: Union. The Union is responsible for Put yourself forward representing the views of for election as class all students. You and your representative fellow students will elect Vote in College elections someone in your class to and attend meetings be your representative and Have your opinion heard to feed back your views to across College through your the Students’ Union and the class representative (if this College at various times isn’t you) throughout the year. Stand for election for The Union is run by the Students’ Union Officer Students’ Union Council posts if you are a class and is affiliated to the representative National Union of Students/ Sit on College committees Union of Students in Ireland as deemed appropriate by (NUS-USI). the Students’ Union/College 18 19 Supporting Students Careers Advice Counselling and Guidance Services Our professional careers advice Beginning a new course can team will work with you throughout be a stressful time. There may the academic year to help with be occasions where you may career planning, job applications, need to speak to someone interview skills and university outside of your course about applications such as UCAS and issues affecting you. Our Central Applications Office (CAO). College counselling service is available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and is staffed by professionally trained counsellors who you can talk to on the phone or in person. Group counselling is also available. Education Support We offer comprehensive education support tailored to your specific needs in order to ensure you have the support to attend College and to succeed on your course. If you are unsure about the support we can offer, we can offer transition visits prior to starting your course which will provide a personal review of your needs. 20 21 How you will learn Teaching and assessment Teaching methods Assessment methods methods vary but most courses are taught through may include: may include: traditional lectures and practical sessions. You may Guest lectures from industry Formal examinations be taught on campus, by professionals or specialists eLearning, or a combination Practical exercises of both (blended learning). One-to-one sessions with your tutor Coursework Workshops Online examinations Case studies Written assignments Directed learning Reports Independent study Essays Visits e.g. to museums and Case Studies exhibitions or into industry Industrial Visits Reports Productions We have excellent industrial Observation of Skills links with local, national Design studio work and international employers Real-life industry projects who provide you with Laboratory work valuable seminars, visits and Presentations placement opportunities. 22 23 Digital Learning On many of our courses Access course material teaching is delivered partly online 24/7 online and can be completed at home or on campus. Learn in virtual We have invested heavily classrooms in online teaching facilities and computer equipment Experience interactive to provide our students and engaging online with a high quality learning programmes experience. Enhance and develop We are continually refining, your digital skills expanding and enhancing our online course delivery, offering Balance study, work and the flexibility of studying parts family commitments of your course online. This means you can: 24 25 Qualifications Access to Level 3 BTEC/Cambridge Level 3 BTEC University Extended Diploma Subsidiary Diploma (A Levels equivalent) Studied over 1 year, full-time Equivalent to 3 A Levels Equivalent to 1 A Level A modularised course which Studied over 2 years, full-time Studied over 1 year, full-time is set at A level standard.