Higher Education Guide by Mark Knight

www.sbc.ac.uk

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Welcome South Birmingham College is one of the most successful colleges within the West Midlands and can help put you on the right track to achieve your goals. We are based at six centres across Birmingham and have over 15,000 students studying with us each year on a wide range of courses and qualifications from entry level to Higher Education. If you are considering studying a Higher Education course at South Birmingham College then you can be sure of a great learning experience that will help put you in the right direction to get the career you want. South Birmingham College consistently delivers the highest success rates amongst all other local colleges, as well having one of the highest student satisfaction rates of all local colleges. Because we are focussed on providing vocational courses you can be sure that when you complete your course with us you will leave the college with the skills employers need as well as being equipped to go onto further higher education qualifications at university. This guide will tell you about the range of Higher Education courses that are on offer at South Birmingham College as well as giving all the information that you need to know about things like finance, the different types of qualifications and the kind of support you will receive from the college.

For more detailed information including programme specification, detailed course information and entry requirements visit www.sbc.ac.uk and click Higher Education.

Types of courses South Birmingham College offers a number of different types of qualifications in a range of subjects.

Foundation Degrees Foundation Degree courses are designed and delivered in partnership with employers that provide the knowledge and skills required for the workplace and combine a mixture of academic study and vocational study related to the industry sector you are studying. After completing a Foundation Degree you will be able to progress onto the final year of a full time honours degree.

Higher National Diploma The Higher National Diploma also known as HND is a level 5 vocational qualification which provides both theoretical and practical knowledge in a particular sector. Completion of the HND can lead direct to employment or help you progress onto the final year of a full time honours degree.

Higher National Certificate

Why choose South Birmingham College? We understand that when you start to think about doing a Higher Education qualification that you automatically think about going away to a university. But we think that there are a few reasons why you might consider a Higher Education course at South Birmingham College. u u u u u u u u u u u u u u

You can study locally without having to move away, saving on having to pay living costs Partnerships with other organisations such as Birmingham City University Smaller group sizes, so that you get a more personalised learning experience Flexible learning options so that you can work and study at the same time Courses that can progress onto a full degree if you did not get the grades you needed Vocational courses so that you are work ready and can hit the ground running A mixture of teaching and learning styles, not just lectures Many courses are in manageable modules with ongoing assessments Access to a wide range of resources to help you with your studies Individual tutor support Access to a range of advice and guidance from student services Value for money Access to financial support High levels of satisfaction

The Higher National Certificate also known as a HNC is similar to the HND in that it provides both theoretical and practical knowledge in a certain subject, but it may be a better option for part time study. Once complete you could even complete another year to top up to a full Higher National Diploma.

Higher Professional Certificates and Diplomas As well as HNC and HND you can also study a number of professional certificates and diplomas in a range of subjects that will give you a professional industry focused qualification at level four and above.

Working in partnership with Birmingham City University South Birmingham College offers a number of its courses in partnership with Birmingham City University. Birmingham City University is one of the largest universities in the UK and its popularity has grown significantly in recent years. Situated in Birmingham, the UK’s second city, Birmingham City University are proud of it’s strong links and close collaboration with the region, which dates back to 1843. The University puts more than £270 million into the regional economy and supports thousands of jobs in the city and surrounding area. If you are studying on a course that is offered in partnership with Birmingham City University you will be enrolled at both Birmingham City University and South Birmingham College with access to the resources and faculties of both organisations. Your qualification will be accredited and awarded by the University and you may have the opportunity to progress to a one year top up to gain your full honours degree.

HND Business and Marketing Full Time – Digbeth This course will cover all the core areas of business such as finance, planning and HR but with a specific focus on marketing. You will learn how all the business functions interact with the marketing function, and you will look at areas such as marketing planning, sales and advertising.

Courses Business and Management Are you looking for an outlet for your entrepreneurial spirit or a way to boost you up the career ladder? Then our business and management courses are going to give you te skills and knowledge you need to be a future leader of industry.

HND Business and Management – In partnership with Birmingham City University Full Time – Digbeth This course introduces you to the core range of business and management subjects, from HR and economic policy through to management decision making. Not only will you learn about these areas, and how they all integrate and function together, but you’ll see and learn how they can be applied to business situations.

HNC to HND Business and Management Top Up – In partnership with Birmingham City University Part Time – Digbeth This course will allow you to top up your HNC to a HND in Business and Management. You will increase your knowledge of core business and management subjects as well as covering new areas of work. HNC Business and Management – In partnership with Birmingham City University Part Time – Digbeth This course introduces you to the core range of business and management subjects, including human resource management, accounting, marketing, economics, operations and business planning. Not only will you learn about these areas, and how they all integrate and function together, but you’ll see and learn how they can be applied to real business situations.

HND Business Part Time – Digbeth This course will introduce you to a wide range of general business subjects that can be applied in real life business situations. It will provide you with the skills to deal with areas including business operations, finance and marketing that you will experience out in the real business world.

Construction and Building Services Our Construction and Building Services courses will help you build the strong foundations of a high rise career. From the practical aspects through to management you will develop all the skills needed to build or extended your career.

HNC Building Services Engineering: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning – In partnership with Birmingham City University Part Time – Bordesley Green This course is aimed at those working as or wanting to become an engineer in the building services industry. You will study design principles and applications, building services science, analytical methods, management principles and applications, and health and safety. You will also study additional specialist units in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

HNC Construction – In partnership with Birmingham City University Part Time – Bordesley Green This course is targeted at people who are seeking a career in technology, building surveying, building control, quantity surveying, and construction management. However, it is also applicable to anyone involved with the design, production or management of buildings. It is an ideal gateway for progression from tradesperson to site manager and beyond.

IT and Computing Are you part of the IT crowd? Our IT and computing courses will give you the skills and knowledge you need to play a part in a world that ever increasingly controlled by computers and technology. You will gain practical skills that can help you build a network as building your career.

Foundation Degree in Information Communication Technology (ICT) – In partnership with Birmingham City University Full Time – Digbeth This technology-based course has a strong work-based emphasis and a focus on providing the skills employers need. It covers the themes to reflect the diversity of challenges that ICT technicians face working in modern business organisations integrating ICT into their operations. Themes are the ICT industry, enterprise systems, networking and infrastructure management. HND Computing and Systems Development Full Time – Digbeth The course covers the basic theories and applications of computing. You will develop an understanding of computer hardware and software systems, along with the everyday skills needed for working on computer-based projects. In the second year you can choose to continue on a ‘general’ pathway or focus on specialist topics in either computing, business information systems or software engineering.

HND Computing and Systems Development Part Time – Digbeth The course covers the basic theories and applications of computing. You will develop an understanding of computer hardware and software systems, along with the everyday skills needed for working on computer-based projects. In the second year you can choose to continue on a ‘general’ pathway or focus on specialist topics in either computing, business information systems or software engineering.

Health and Social Care If you are looking to build a career in the area of health and social care then there is no better way to look after your career and see it thrive than one of our courses. Our courses will give you all the skills and practical knowledge you need to help support groups and sectors of the community.

Foundation Degree in Early Years – In partnership with Birmingham City University Full Time – Hall Green This course is ideal if you’re looking to work in a childcare setting; it’s a practical, hands-on introduction to contemporary issues and opportunities. The emphasis of this course is on developing skills and academic knowledge as vehicles for learning. The course focuses on the following key areas of selfdevelopment and independent learning: team working and managing others, critical application of professional practice and application of work-based experience and evidence.

Foundation Degree in Early Years – In partnership with Birmingham City University Part Time – Hall Green This course is ideal if you’re looking to work in a childcare setting; it’s a practical, hands-on introduction to contemporary issues and opportunities. The emphasis of this course is on developing skills and academic knowledge as vehicles for learning. The course focuses on the following key areas of selfdevelopment and independent learning: team working and managing others, critical application of professional practice and application of work-based experience and evidence.

HND Advanced Practise Working with Children and Families Full Time – Hall Green This course is for child care and care professionals who work in the public, voluntary and private sectors supporting the welfare and care of children, young people and families. Or it is for those who want to develop a professional career working with children and families in early years. You will study a wide range of topics, including play and learning, health promotion, special needs research and early years’ partnerships. HND Health and Social Care Part Time – Hall Green This course is for those who wish to pursue a career in care management and administrative posts in healthcare services. The course focuses on human resources, financial, political, cultural, economic, ethical, industrial, technological and psycho-social aspects of healthcare.

Media Media is one of the biggest influences in our modern lives, our courses in media can be just as big an influence on your successful career. You will gain both practical skill and theoretical knowledge in our state-of-the-art facilities, from lecturers who have years of industry experience and passion.

HND Media, Communications and Production – In partnership with Birmingham City University Full Time – Digbeth This course aims to develop students’ skills in media vocational areas and to develop understanding of issues central to the media industries, their products and their audiences. The course content includes: contextual studies; media project; communication and research; digital imaging; video production; radio production; film and TV studies; new media.

Music If music is your passion then you will be glad to know that it is our passion too. From technical to performance related skills you will learn all you need to know to succeed in the hard to crack music industry. With our excellent facilities and our industry experienced lecturers we can guarantee that your career will be a no. 1 hit.

HND Popular Music Practice – In partnership with Birmingham City University Full Time – Digbeth On this course there are three areas of study performance, production and composition. Each of these will enable you to understand a key area and to develop new skills. Undertaking work in each area reflects the reality of the commercial music industry where practitioners may perform a variety of roles.

available to full-time students and the amount will depend on where you live. A maintenance loan will have to be paid back but a maintenance grant does not. You can only apply for a maintenance grant if your household income is below £42,600.

Disabled Student Allowance This is available to both full and part time students who have extra costs because of a disability, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty. DSAs do not depend on household income, but how much you will get depends entirely on your circumstances. You can use it to help to pay for specialist equipment or a non-medical helper, travel or other extra costs.

Childcare Grant Help for childcare costs for full time students who have dependent children aged under 15 or under 17 if the child has special educational needs in registered or approved childcare.

Parents’ Learning Allowance Help for full time students with course-related costs if you have dependent children. This will depend on your income and that of your dependants.

Adult Dependants’ Grant You may if you are a full time student get financial help if you have an adult who depends on you financially. This will depend on your income and that of your dependents. You can find out more information about what financial help you can get by talking to the Student Services team at South Birmingham College or log onto www.direct.gov/ studentfinance

Student Finance

How to apply

It is understandable that any prospective HE student will be concerned about how they are going to afford to study a Higher Education qualification. By choosing to study at South Birmingham College you may be surprised that it is not as much as you think, and there is a number of ways in which you can get help with the cost.

How you have to apply will depend on what course you are applying for.

Tuition Fee Student Loans Both full and part time students can apply for a student loan to cover the cost of their tuition fees, but you will have to satisfy certain eligibility criteria. Full-time students have to pay back any loans plus interest once you leave your course and start earning more than £21,000 a year. Part-time students who earn over £21,000 a year have to start paying back their loans after four years even if the course hasn’t finished.

Maintenance Loans and Grants Maintenance grants and loans are to help you pay your costs such as rent, whilst your are studying. They are only

Applying for courses run in Partnership with Birmingham City University If you want to study a course that is offered in partnership with Birmingham City University the route by which you apply will depend if it is a full or part time programme.

Full Time Courses – application through UCAS If you are applying for a full time course that is offered in partnership with Birmingham City University, then you should apply through UCAS. The institution code for Birmingham City University is B25. To apply through UCAS you will need to register on their website and complete your application online. If you are currently studying at a school or college, you will need to apply through them using their “buzzword”. If you are not currently in education, you can apply as an “Individual”.

Once you register online, gaining your own username and password, you will then be required to complete the different sections of the form.

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If you are an international student who wishes to study a Higher Education course at South Birmingham College then you first need to contact the International Team at South Birmingham College to discuss your application. To contact the International Team call 00 44 (0)121 694 5033 or email international@sbc.ac.uk

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Applications from international students

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When you complete the application form make sure that you complete all sections as indicated on the form. Giving all your contact details, the details of the course you wish to study and list your relevant qualifications. Once you have completed and sent your application we will review the form and then you will be invited in for an interview.

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For all courses run by South Birmingham College you should apply direct to the college, you will find an online application form on our website as well as a PDF version that you can complete and either drop in or send by post. Alternatively you can call into any of our centres or contact the Admissions Team on 0121 694 5000 or email admissions@sbc.ac.uk

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Applying for courses run by South Birmingham College

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If you are applying for a part time course in partnership with Birmingham City University then you should apply direct to South Birmingham College. You will find an online application form on our website as well as a PDF version that you can complete and either drop in or send by post. Alternatively you can call into any of our centres or contact the Admissions Team on 0121 694 5000 or email admissions@sbc.ac.uk

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Part Time Courses – apply to South Birmingham College

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Once submitted, UCAS will confirm your application. This letter will include your own Personal ID number, which you should use as a reference in all future correspondence with UCAS and your choice of institutions. You can also track the progress of your application by using the Track Progress section on the UCAS site once you have applied.

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The online system is easy to use and the application does not need to be completed in one sitting. It can be accessed anywhere the internet is available and altered as many times as required before it is submitted.

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Personal details – In this section you are asked to include further personal details which apply to your application. Choices – This is where you state your choices. Education – This section enables you to list schools or colleges with qualifications already gained and those you may be studying currently. Employment – This is where you can briefly list your employment history. Personal Statement – This is your chance to sell yourself in terms of your skills, experience and qualities.

How to find us

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Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8ES

For more information on our courses: u Check

out our website www.sbc.ac.uk u Call into any of our campuses u Contact the admissions team on 0121 694 5000 or email admissions@sbc.ac.uk u Attend one of our open days

0121 694 5000 www.sbc.ac.uk