Get Involved

Students’ Voice.

The Students’ Voice at East Sussex College is central to providing an exceptional student experience. Our Students’ Voice includes:

Students’ Union.

All post 16-year-old students at East Sussex College are automatically members of the National Union of Students (NUS) and as such, members of the College’s Students’ Union.

Course Representatives.

To ensure a representative Students’ Voice, each course group, including adult, apprentices and international students, elect two Course Representatives.

Course Representatives represent the views of their fellow students at both the campus-based students councils and their relevant course area curriculum feedback meetings.

Our Students' Union is run by the students, for the students!

Student Governors.

Student Governors are elected to both the College’s campus-based Local Governing Boards and the College’s Main Governing Board. The role of the Student Governor is different to that of the Course Representative who is required to represent the views of their respective groups. Student Governors provide a student voice, their voice, to the College governing body and respective governance meetings.

SCAN HERE TO... find out more about the Students’ Voice.

Enrichment Clubs.

Our students can participate in a wide range of clubs, societies, competitions, trips, awareness raising activities and social events alongside their studies.

Our enrichment programmes help our students to develop awareness and skills to support your next steps into further study or work.

Look out for information on the clubs running when you start with us. We’ve had Film clubs, Book clubs, Debate clubs, Photography clubs, Art clubs, Book clubs, an LGBTQ+ space, Sport clubs, Music clubs, and many more! Is there something you would like to take part in? Form your own club - it’s a surefire way to meet like-minded people and do something that interests you!

Clubs and societies are a great way to meet new people at college and learn new things!

SCAN HERE TO... find out more about our Enrichment Clubs.

Sports Academies.

Our Sports Academy programme aims to provide opportunities at the highest level of sporting performance for learners.

The Academies enable talented athletes to receive high-level coaching and competition alongside their studies.

Furthermore, you will have access to some of the best facilities in the local area.

“Studying Sport at ESC is a good way to get into football, they give you a lot of time on the pitch. College studies run alongside the football programme, so you get the most out of both sides of it. The Sport course opens up a lot of football opportunities, so if you want to focus on your football it’s definitely the best course to do.”

- JACK BATES, FOOTBALL ACADEMY STUDENT

SCAN HERE TO... find out more about our Sports Academies.

Our Sports Academies include football, netball, athletics, basketball, tennis, gym and badminton. We encourage and support athletes to compete regularly in national competitions. A number of high-level sports performers attend the College.

In 2022, it was confirmed that Skiltek Sport, the developers of the College programme for ESC Hastings and Hastings United FC, will be continuing its partnership - great news for aspiring footballers! What’s more, our Eastbourne campus has also partnered with Skiltek as our Football Academy provider, with the expectation of replicating the immense success at our Hastings campus.

Two East Sussex College students secured their place in the England U18 schoolboys' football squad.

Scan the QR to read more about the England U18 schoolboys’ football squad.

Music Centre of Excellence.

Performing Arts Centre of Excellence.

Our courses are challenging and hard work, but ultimately so rewarding.

East Sussex College has a long established reputation as a centre of excellence for Performing Arts. We are one of the founding members of the National Skills Academy (NSA) and one of the first Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in the Performing Arts and Entertainment Industries in the UK. This reflects our commitment to innovative and excellent teaching and learning.

Our purpose-built Performing Arts Centre in Lewes is a busy and exciting environment, where you are able to explore the challenges that will face you in the 21st century, and to acquire and improve the skills that you will need to succeed. With a range of performance and rehearsal studios, workshop and ICT facilities, there is every opportunity to develop and improve your ideas and practice. Choose to study at our Eastbourne or Lewes campuses and become immersed in creativity.

Whether your music style is contemporary or classic, at ESC you will get the opportunity to work alongside like-minded musicians, under the guidance of expert tutors, all of whom have industry experience. Our recording studios are also equipped with the latest equipment.

You will be encouraged to work with peers across our variety of music courses, to give you the best experience and multiple opportunities to develop your career.

SCAN HERE TO... find out more about our Music Academies.

Academic Academy.

Our new Academic Academy consists of a diverse range of talks and lectures from both academic professionals and speakers from the business community to advise and inform you in subjects that are both engaging and will help inform you regarding the progression pathways open to you in the future. Students have enjoyed talks from Google, McLaren Racing, Virgin Media and even listened to talks about the James Webb Telescope.

Turing Overseas Work Placements.

We know that the learning you do outside of the classroom can be just as important as the things you learn in it. Our students gain unrivalled opportunities through industry trips, workshops and guest speakers to create valuable experiences to help them toward their career goals.

We are excited to offer this great opportunity for students on our Technical and Professional courses, allowing them to take part in our Turing programme. Turing involves a four-week overseas work placement and includes funding for your flights, accommodation and food. It’s an incredible opportunity to gain work experience, meet new people, boost your CV, experience different cultures and have a great time. Chloe (below) settled in quickly at the 7UFREE spa in Lisbon during her placement in 2022. Her favourite task was to perform reflexology-based treatments on clients. The experience helped her gain an understanding of the differences between the Spa environments in Lisbon and the UK.

“I’ve enjoyed my experience at 7UFREE, which is a fairly new business. They were all very polite and made me feel welcome. I performed treatments, which I really enjoyed. I would recommend 7UFREE to Beauty Therapy students for this experience.”

- CHLOE LILLEY, BEAUTY THERAPY STUDENT

Industry Placements, Talks & Trips.

Your learning will also take place outside of the classroom. Our extensive links with local and national employers and organisations means every student at East Sussex College has the opportunity to participate in courserelated work experience as part of your study programme.

T-Level students will participate in a 315hr Industry Placement as part of the T-Level programme. This placement will be occupationally specific to the T-Level you are studying and will take place at a point in your studies where you can make a real contribution to the business you are placed with.

Alongside your studies, experience of the working environment will greatly enhance your employment opportunities and will help you to be prepared for a successful and productive future career.

As part of our tutorial, enrichment and academic academies you will be able to attend a wide range of careers, employability and progression-related talks, trips and activities throughout the year giving you insights into the latest employment trends and the skills employers are seeking.

These opportunities not only give you valuable hands-on experience, it also looks great on your CV and UCAS application!

SCAN HERE TO... find out more about our Lisbon trip!