Plumpton College, Plumpton College

• Location: Plumpton, England,
• Founded in: 1919,
• Number of students: about 1200,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of training: mixed.

Plumpton College is an educational institution that offers a wide range of programs to international and domestic students, from preparatory and certificate courses to higher education majors. The main focus of the college is agriculture, winemaking, and related fields.

Its history began in 1919, when the county agricultural board leased 340 acres of land in Plumpton and then, five years later, finally bought the area. In 1926, the farm accepted the first students interested in gardening, agriculture, and animal care. Many years of work were full of changes and innovations, thanks to which the college still attracts hundreds of students: about 1200 students study on the Plumpton College campus every year, and several thousand more students choose the online format. Distance degree programs give international students the opportunity to study disciplines that interest them without leaving their homes, but one of the main benefits of full-time study is gaining an international educational experience.

Thanks to its extensive educational area, cooperation with local organizations, excellent learning conditions, specialized programs and highly qualified teaching staff, the college is considered one of the leading institutions in the region in the field of agriculture.

• Work experience is the most important academic component of most study programs: practice strengthens the knowledge gained, helps students gain applied skills that they will need for employment and career development,
• College Career Advisors arrange one-on-one meetings with students to help them in the process of preparing for graduation, finding a follow-up place to continue their studies or employment,
• The Department of Inclusive Education provides additional academic support to students with disabilities: dyslexia, sensory impairments, mental health problems, autism spectrum disorders, and others,
• The Academic Support Office offers additional English and math classes to international students.

Plumpton College has a strong relationship with the University of Brighton, local and regional industry, businesses, which allows for the development of research activities. The college has consistently implemented many high-quality projects in collaboration with a number of different organizations.

Students take an active part in research activities throughout the entire period of study - these are:

• Funded research projects,
• South Downs National Park Research Centre, a joint research centre with the South Downs National Park Authority and the University of Brighton,
• Wine Research is the only wine research centre in the UK,
• Individual research interests.

The college has developed a number of technologies leading to zero carbon emissions: a team of chefs is constantly working to reduce food waste, all outlets use only recyclable cups and takeaway packaging, and recycling bins separate waste.

The residences accept up to 203 students annually in comfortable rooms in a full-board format.  In addition to single living rooms with private bathrooms, some rooms offer collective accommodation and the use of shared facilities. In shared apartments, students are accommodated according to age and gender: up to 18 years and older, boys and girls.

Accommodation in the residence offers students a full package of services:

• Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening snacks for seven days a week,
• All utility bills are already included in the price,
• Free Wi-Fi throughout,
• Round-the-clock staff support,
• Daily cleaning, maintenance,
• Access to all campus events and facilities,
• Transport to local supermarkets, to the hospital if necessary.

The dining room is a great place to meet friends, have a coffee or grab a bite to eat during a break between classes. Every day, the team of chefs offers an assortment of hot and cold dishes, sandwiches, pastries and panini, a pasta bar and main courses, more than half of which are plant-based (vegetarian/vegan). The college promotes a balanced diet with a large selection of freshly prepared salads and delicacies, seasonal vegetables.

Upon admission to Plumpton College, all students join the Student Union, which brings together students to participate in a variety of events on campus and beyond: sports competitions, creative competitions, musical and theatrical performances, scientific seminars and research, charitable projects and others. A number of themed clubs operating on the learning grounds allow students to develop their talents, find like-minded people and promote ideas. Some of the events organized throughout the year are:

• Smoothie Bike Project: Students work to create healthy smoothies to sell to other students and college staff. Plus creating advertising posters, researching tastes and combinations, calculating costs and health benefits,
• "Equality" seminars dedicated to sports areas and their adaptation for people with disabilities,
• A Christmas market focused on raising funds from the sale of handmade jewelry: The event helps students gain experience in volunteering, entrepreneurship, interpersonal communication, and financial planning.

One of the main events organized for all students are excursions around the region and abroad: hiking, camping, trips with sports and gastronomic directions. In December, a ski trip is organized in Passo Tonale, during which students will be able to enjoy the Italian landscapes, try their hand at skiing, snowboarding. During the week, students will stay in a comfortable hotel, receiving three meals a day, all the necessary equipment for training and classes with professional coaches and athletes.

• Excellent grade from Ofsted for comprehensive student support, teaching effectiveness,
• Cooperation with Landex, SELEP, FE Sussex, University of Greenwich and other organizations in England,
• A wide variety of areas to explore,
• 94% of students rate their experience at Plumpton College highly,
• Gaining applied skills and work experience in the process of studying,
• Opportunities for extracurricular development of talents and individual interests.

The college is located on 2500 acres and shares it with several landowners. On the vast green areas, educational buildings have been built with lecture halls and a large library with 10,000 books and reading rooms, stalls for 65 horses, pens for more than 260 cows, 1000 sheep and 130 pigs, greenhouses, practical workshops, and a commercial winery.

Since one of the main areas of extracurricular activities here is sports, there are indoor and outdoor areas on the training grounds, where you can participate in badminton, hockey, netball, rugby, tennis and many other sports. An indoor climbing wall, a sports field, two outdoor courts and a gym offer not only the best equipment, but also comfortable conditions for the development of sports skills with the support of qualified professionals. If a student likes water sports, the college offers classes at the sailing academy in Newhaven - this is an ideal place for canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and other water activities.

Specialized fishing facilities on campus offer students experience fishing, fish care, and outdoor recreation. The training area has two fish ponds for the new recycling farm, chalk streams that are home to a variety of invertebrates such as caddisflies and mayflies, and spawning trout.

The academic year includes three trimesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: April-June.

Academic classes are held on weekdays, but even after they are over, the campus is open for activities, individual lessons and self-study. Rest is provided on weekends, days of national and international holidays, summer holidays.

The list of additional costs will include:

• Registration fees,
• Accommodation, meals,
• A service fee that covers the cost of WiFi, security services, online infrastructure, and other administrative aspects,
• Customized training materials,
• Additional academic, career support,
• Some extracurricular activities, such as excursions,
• Medical care,
• Personal expenses.

The admission procedure consists of several stages, some of which can be completed online:

• Filling out and submitting an application, providing documents,
• Passing an interview, possible entrance tests,
• Receipt of an official letter of enrollment – within 10 working days,
• Making a deposit to book a place on the course,
• Arrive on campus to begin your studies.

Graduates of the college achieve high success due to the quality of teaching, modern approaches and qualifications obtained at the end of their studies. Based on annual statistics, about 95% of students, after graduating from college, enter higher education institutions or find a job within a few months.

Regardless of which course the applicant chooses, he must provide:

• Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Diploma, academic transcripts from the previous place of study (if the education is completed). Some courses are designed for current school students, so they need to provide transcripts of the current year,
• Language test results: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or equivalent. Different courses will require different levels of English proficiency – for example, IELTS level 6.0 or higher is required for admission to undergraduate majors,
• Personal statement, resume.

Students up to 18 years of age are provided with free places in the courses.

Short-term courses do not provide funding from the scholarship fund or partner organizations of the college. Students of other programs have access to programs whose awards cover part or all of the cost of tuition and additional expenses. Some of the scholarship programs are:

• Scholarship for accommodation for pupils of the faculties of horse breeding, agriculture,
• Credit Scholarship for Academically Successful Students,
• Support programmes for pupils in difficult circumstances,
• Child Care Scholarship.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision