New College Durham

• Location: Durham, England,
• Founded: 1977
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: blended.

New College Durham is a Supplementary, Higher Education and Sixth Form college that accepts students from the age of 18.

In 2020, New College Durham became a leading partner of the Northeastern Institute of Technology.

Programs are developed in collaboration with employers. They cover the knowledge, skills and work habits needed for employment and further study. The Ofsted report noted the qualifications and experience of teaching staff and a significant improvement in teaching on functional skills courses.

The ASC team offers advice on choosing a course, career plans, further education, job applications and financial support. Students receive impartial career guidance at different stages of their studies.

Student support covers safety, well-being and social adjustment. International students can have private, confidential conversations with their pastoral support person.

New College Durham consists of the following faculties:

• business and management,
• orthopedics
• Computer Technology,
• graphic design,
• Physical Culture and Sports,
• multimedia
• social work.

• According to the college, student satisfaction is consistently above 90%,
• New College Durham welcomes international students from Norway, Denmark and various parts of Asia.

New College Durham does not offer residency accommodation to students, but the college administration helps find other options for renting your own apartment, room, or homestay.  Homestay is a format where students live in the same house with a local family, which helps them navigate the city and immerses them in its culture. The college organizes and oversees a Homestay Accommodation Scheme for international students in the Durham area. The program guide states that students are aged 16 and over. The length of stay depends on the study project: many students arrive in September and stay until June, some come in January for eight weeks, and others stay for one academic year.

The college recommends an approved homestay for international students under 18 who are not living with a parent, legal guardian or close family member. A dedicated Homestay and Accommodation Officer handles host family recruitment and monitoring, accommodation inspections, student placements and compliance. Host families are selected, assessed and continually monitored. Before a student is placed, approval requires a home inspection, reference checks, enhanced DBS checks, safeguarding training and a risk assessment. Students and their parents or guardians receive accommodation information during the admissions process.

Host families are expected to provide a single or double bed. A wardrobe, chest of drawers, shelves or a combination of these is recommended for clothing storage. If there is no desk in the bedroom, the home should have a large dining table with suitable study space. Families must provide Wi-Fi that is accessible in the bedroom. Students are expected to use the internet in moderation and avoid excessive downloads, such as games. A private bathroom is not required. Students should have access to the family bathroom and be able to use shared areas of the home, including the living room and dining room, at all times.

New College Durham is home to a variety of food and beverage outlets serving freshly prepared meals and snacks daily. The United Kitchen and Costa are on the ground floor in the East Mall of the Main Building. P.O.D is on the ground floor in the East Mall, while Starbucks is in the Sports and Music Building. Vending machines are available on campus. Outlet opening hours apply during term time and may change. Students staying with host families are responsible for their own weekday lunches.

The extracurricular activities of New College Durham consist of:

• social interest clubs,
• sports events and team competitions,
• introductory course for international students,
• social events.

For an additional fee, students can attend excursions to places such as the walled city of York, the capital of Scotland Edinburgh, the traditional seaside resort of Whitby.

The student union organizes cultural and social clubs and events. The Sports Development Team runs recreational sports sessions and competitive team events. The Football Development Centre partners with Newcastle United Women and Consett AFC, with training led by UEFA licensed coaches. One of the soccer teams welcomes players aged 19 and over.

• 6-a-side soccer takes place twice a week from 12pm to 12:50pm,
• The men's and women's basketball teams train twice a week and play against other colleges and universities,
• Open sports sessions, including badminton, are held at 3:30pm on selected days,
• Regular dance and self-defense sessions are available.

Other activities include:

• a chess club,
• karaoke and open mic performances,
• a retro gaming and Nintendo Switch club,
• Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons tabletop games,
• a support group for young men that meets twice a week,
• learning to cook simple meals for everyday life,
• hands-on sessions on beauty techniques and skin and hair care.

Weekly Culture Café meetings help students practice English, meet international peers and share experiences. They are primarily aimed at international students but are open to everyone at the college.

The college organizes activities introducing students to Durham, its Cathedral and Castle. Trips to York explore the city’s Roman, Viking and Medieval heritage. Other possible outings include the Lake District, with a boat trip or visits to local towns. The program may include Christmas festivities, ice skating and a Christmas dinner. Places at events are limited and allocated on a first come first served basis.

• A wide range of programs, including Information Technology, Commerce, Business, Design, Media, Law, and Culinary Arts,
• A practical area of study created thanks to special groups of students and teachers involved in the application of modern technologies in enterprises and companies,
• Opportunity to transfer to partner universities and study at the best universities in Canada,
• Cooperation with the University of Ontario, which offers more than 60 programs for transferring to a university and obtaining a diploma or scientific degree in a short time,
• New College Durham was the only college in the North East of England to offer all three of the first T Level programs,
• The college was the first in the North East of England to receive a “Strong” skills rating from Ofsted,
• Following the Ofsted inspection in November 2022, the college received an overall rating of “Good.” Personal Development was rated “Outstanding,” and all other areas assessed received a “Good” rating.

New College Durham includes:

• sports grounds and halls,
• dance studio,
• classrooms of various sizes, accommodating from 20 to 40 people,
• free parking spaces for cars,
• a library in the main building, which features a variety of online resources and printed publications,
• T.H.E Hub, which houses 23 rooms, including a sensory room, a hospital room, a dental office, specialized IT classrooms and scientific laboratories,
• A digital learning zone in the format of a large computer complex, where more than 250 computers with Microsoft Office 365 software, Internet access and specialized software are installed.

The campus is less than a ten-minute ride from downtown Durham and the Arnison Centre shopping center. The nearest airport, Newcastle International Airport, is 40km from the college. A taxi ride from the airport takes around 30 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Trimester dates at New College Durham change every year. Approximate length of trimesters:

• Autumn term: from September 4 to October 27,
• Winter (Christmas) trimester: from 6 November to 19 December,
• Spring Term: January 3 to March 28,
• Summer term: April 15 to July 23.

Additional expenses at New College Durham: Administrative fees, exam fees, registration renewals, accommodation, meals, excursions, personal expenses (shopping, travel).

Payment arrangements must be in place no later than 3 weeks after the course starts.

1. Choose a course. Applications are accepted at any time during the year,
2. Prepare a personal statement in advance to submit it after the application has been reviewed at the request of the admissions committee, along with other documents,
3. Wait for the decision of the commission and an invitation to an interview, where you will meet your personal mentor,
4. Wait for an offer for further study at New College Durham from the Admissions Committee,
5. Make a decision on the final direction and wait for the final proposal from the commission.

After graduating from New College Durham, students can continue their studies at a partner university and obtain a bachelor's degree in a short period (5-6 semesters). The college works closely with universities in Canada and the United States, so students have the opportunity to continue their studies in one of them.

According to the college, each year over 92% of students move into employment, apprenticeships, higher education or other further study. This is a combined figure covering all of these education and employment destinations.

Admission requirements vary depending on the program and level of education, but the list of general requirements includes:

• Certificate of secondary education with a supplement, translated into English and notarized,
• proof of English language proficiency (IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80) or completion of preliminary language courses,
• A valid passport.

A personal statement may be required for some University Centre courses. The college may request additional information about qualifications or work experience, or ask for references, particularly for degree programs.

Applicants with special educational needs or disabilities are encouraged to disclose any additional support needs early. The college assesses what support it can provide on the chosen program. For these applicants, interview invitations, conditional offers, acceptance of those offers and subsequent enrollment depend on whether the college can meet their individual support needs.

Scholarships cover expenses such as transportation, uniforms, and meals. Financial support for students is available through a number of criteria:

• age category from 16 to 19 years old,
• age category 19 years and older,
• Scholarship for Advanced Students,
• Child Care Scholarship for students 20 years of age and older.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision