How to Apply

GUIDANCE NOTES

For all Higher Education courses, you are welcome to approach Orbital South Colleges University Centre directly for an informal discussion or to arrange to meet a member of the relevant course team. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer places on Higher Nationals or Foundation Degrees until your UCAS application has been received.

Different rules may apply during the Clearing period (early July to September), but this is subject to places still being available.

As demand is high we recommend that you apply for your chosen course as soon as possible. You will be offered a place subject to meeting the published entry criteria for your course and satisfactorily completing an interview. For Early Years FdA only, an enhanced DBS check will also be required. Any offer you receive will often have conditions attached.

Please note that in Higher Education, an offer of a place is not necessarily guaranteed merely by meeting the basic entry criteria. Many other factors must be taken into account such as your evidenced potential to study at a higher level and the likelihood of you completing the course. As is common across Higher Education, the College reserves the right to make an academic judgment based on these factors.

If you have Additional Learning Support needs, please discuss this with the College as soon as possible, ideally before you apply, so that we can offer suitable advice and support.

Your right to appeal an admissions decision

You have the right to appeal an admissions decision. This should be made in writing to Client Services within 14 days of being notified that your application was unsuccessful.

Closure of courses

This is always done in consultation with applicants, and with the offer of suitable information, advice and guidance if applications have been received. Any closure will be organised by the Head of Department contacting applicants individually in conjunction with the course leader and Client Services. All such closures require College Executive approval and the Head of Higher Education is included in this process. The College does not close programmes once enrolment has taken place, but should numbers become very low, support would be given to those wishing to transfer to another institution on a case-by-case basis. 

Accreditation Of Prior Learning (APL)

If you wish credits awarded by another institution to contribute towards your course, please contact Client Services to make us aware of this before the interview. It will be your responsibility to provide evidence as reasonably requested.

On the most basic level, you will need to bring your certificates to the interview, so a member of the academic staff can record these credits and consult with their manager as to the likelihood of APL. They will also require evidence of the learning outcomes of the modules/units you wish to claim so they can match them against the course you wish to study at the College. You may be asked for other evidence that supports your claim, for example, reports from an employer or marked work.

All cases of APL are very individual but basically require the College to collect evidence and assess this in a transparent and accountable manner. If it is not possible to transfer all or some of the credits, you will be given information, advice and guidance on why this is and what further actions you might have to take.

The College follows the procedures for APL as laid down by its Awarding Bodies. If relevant, there will also be discussions as to the best way to integrate applicants into the second year of a course.

Looking to Transfer?

Click to view our Higher Education Transfer Arrangements

Information, advice and guidance are available at every contact stage. More information can be found in the Higher Education Course Guide.