1. Consider your options, make your choices

Starting a full-time course involves a big commitment in terms of your time and effort so you will be keen to make the right decisions. There are various choices to make including:

• What types of qualification will suit me and help me reach my goals?
• What course level do I need?
• What subjects interest me?
• What progression routes are open to me?
• Will I need to pay fees?

2. Gather information, seek advice and guidance

Information and Advice

• Use our Course Search
• Attend an Open Evening

If you are in school, your careers teachers and Connexions Advisers will be able to guide you and help you weigh up your options so you make a good decision. Reading College attends most school careers and options events and we will always be happy to talk to you and your parents about courses at the college. Alternatively our Information and Admissions Advisors are there to provide you with advice and information on:

• courses and course choice
• financial assistance
• childcare and other support while you study
• enrolment and payment of fees.

To make contact:

• Call into our Advice Centre and speak with an advisor.
• Call us on 0800 371 434.
• E-mail us on enquiries@reading-college.ac.uk.

Guidance All current and future students have access to guidance with planning their future progression route. Our Employment and Careers team offers drop-in and booked appointments.

• College Progression Advisors provide individual guidance to help you with your choices and moving to your next job or course.
• Next Step Advisors work closely alongside college advisors to provide support for adult learners.
• Connexions Advisors work in the college to support the progression of students under 19.

3. Make your application

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible to give you the best chance of securing a place on the course of your choice. Some courses are very popular and fill up quickly. Applying does not commit you to joining a course or guarantee you a place.

• Apply online

Find your course on our course search and complete the associated on-line application form.

• Apply by post

Complete the application form at the back of our full-time prospectus or download one and return it to Admissions, Reading College, Kings Road, Reading, RG1 4HJ.

• Apply in person

Drop your completed application form into the college.

4. Attend your interview

When we receive your application form we will contact you to let you know it has been received safely and we give you your college ID number. Then we will arrange an interview for you with your course tutor. Interviews take place at the college in Kings Road. If you cannot keep your interview appointment, please telephone Admissions to arrange an alternative date. Your interview is a two-way process. It’s an opportunity for you to find out all you need to know about the course you have applied for, to meet some of the teaching team and also to have a look at the college environment. The lecturer interviewing you will want to hear your reasons for your course choice and will also be keen to hear about your progress with school subjects. In the interview be prepared to discuss your skills, interests and experience of work, volunteering and leisure pursuits. At the end of the interview you will be told whether you have been offered a place on a course. If we think you are more suited to an alternative course, we will explain this and refer you for a discussion with the new course team. Alternatively you may be referred to the guidance team to discuss other options.

5. After your interview

Within two weeks of your interview you will receive your formal offer letter outlining the conditions of your offer. Some offers are conditional on GCSE grades but we also make unconditional offers if applicants have already met the entry requirements. You will be asked to complete the acceptance of offer form and return it in a pre-paid envelope to secure your place. We will stay in contact with you regularly in the months between your offer and your enrolment and will update you on what is going on in the college and what you will need to do to prepare for the start of your course. Before you join you'll get lots of chances to visit us again and speak to the tutors on your chosen course.

6. Enrol

At enrolment you officially become a signed-up Reading College student. You may be invited in for Early Enrolment from June but Main Enrolment starts just after GCSEs. We will give you advance notice of the date of your enrolment and remind you about what you will need to bring along, for example your exam results.

7. Start term

Congratulations! You are now ready to start your new year at Reading College.