Here at Bedford College, we focus on you as an individual. We
understand that you may have been away from education for some time
and you are probably juggling part-time study with work and family
commitments. We therefore provide a wide range of support tailored
to your circumstances to ensure you receive all the encouragement
and help that you need.
What’s more, Ofsted have rated our support ‘Outstanding’ and our
Student Services team have been awarded the Matrix Standard which
proves that the professional advice and guidance we provide is of
the highest quality.
You can benefit from a wide range of support
including:
Alternative routes into higher education
Not everyone follows the traditional path of taking A-Levels
before applying to a higher education course. We provide an
alternative route for those of you who may have been away from
education for a few years. These courses are specifically designed
to develop the skills and confidence you need to progress to
degree-level.
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Your own personal tutor
who will give you continual, one-on-one
support throughout your time with us. You will receive regular
tutorials with them, giving you the opportunity to discuss your
College work face-to-face. Your Personal Tutor will encourage and
support you by setting short and long term goals in addition to
producing an individual learning plan, tailored to your future
aspirations. You can also contact your Personal Tutor when you are
away from College via email or through Moodle, the student website.
This level of support is not usually found at universities and we
believe it helps our students reach their potential and achieve
more.
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Student finance
With all the recent changes in higher
education fees and funding it can be difficult to understand
exactly what financial support is available to you and how to
access it. Our award-winning support services can help you to
understand the system of fees, loans, grants and bursaries.
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Impartial careers guidance
Even before you join Bedford College, our
advisers offer impartial advice and guidance on your education,
training and work prospects. They are even happy to help you
complete your CV, application forms and prepare for interviews.
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Small class sizes
of 12-15 students, which ensures that you have more attention
from your course tutor than a traditional university setting.
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Student voice
Your views matter, so at Bedford
College we make sure your voice is heard. There are plenty of
opportunities to become involved – you could stand for election or
take part in fundraising activities, and it looks great on your
CV.
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Additional support
Our team are on hand to support you in
applying for additional support. Subject to approval our committed
team can provide you with: specialist equipment such as large
keyboards, adapted course material and other resources; support in
accessing the College; special exam arrangements; dyslexia, hearing
and visual support specialists; an Assistive Technology Centre
which has specialist equipment and software designed to make your
learning experience as productive as possible; and a specialist
‘Deaf Team’ who have been awarded the Action on Hearing Loss
(formerly RNID) Louder than Words Charter.
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Equality & Diversity
We have successfully achieved the Investors in
Diversity Stage 1 until April 2012 and we celebrate the richness
and diversity of our student population, encouraging everyone to
participate fully in College life. We are committed to providing a
learning environment that values each person equally. We oppose all
forms of discrimination or victimisation on any grounds, be it by
age, disability, race, gender, religion or belief, sexual
orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership or
pregnancy and maternity. We also aim to advance equality of
opportunity and foster good relations between people. View our
policies.
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Every Student Matters
We take the wellbeing and safety of every single student very
seriously. We strive to ensure a safe and welcoming environment in
College, and have safeguarding and anti-bullying policies in place
to ensure that young people and vulnerable adults studying with us
do so in a safe and secure environment. If you have any concerns
about these issues our trained staff are here to help.
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Students' Union (SU)
If you are enrolled on a Foundation Degree that is accredited by
the University of Bedfordshire then you also have access to the
University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union (UBSU). With bases in
Bedford and Luton, UBSU is run by students for students, organising
events, campaigns, along with social nights out. Check out the UBSU
website for more information: www.ubsu.co.uk
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Confidential counselling
Should you ever need to talk to someone confidentially about
issues in your private or College life we have a dedicated
counselling service.
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Graduation
Bedford College’s Achievements Ceremony is the highlight of the
College year and provides you, your friends and your family with
the opportunity to celebrate your graduation with a truly memorable
evening.
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