Richmond and Hillcroft Adult and Community College, Richmond-Hillcroft College

• Location: Richmond and Surbiton, England,
• Year of foundation: 2017,
• Number of students: more than 7000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of training: mixed.

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult and Community College (RHACC) is a college of further education with two campuses in the suburbs of London. It offers certification courses for advanced training, preparation for admission to higher education programs in full-time, evening, and online formats.

RHACC is one of nine institutions offering adult education courses in the UK. Its history began in 2017, when two colleges, Richmond Adult and Community College and Hillcroft College, merged to meet modern trends in education. Today, RHACC offers high-quality academic programs focused not only on the professional aspect, but also on the individual development of each student.

With two campuses located in south-west London, RHACC is able to teach a large number of students in person – around 7,000 students annually. International students have been studying at RHACC for more than 40 years, ever since the founding colleges operated separately. The renovated college has created excellent conditions for supporting foreign students, including assistance in obtaining a student visa, career counseling, tutoring and many others. The teaching staff, which provides students with comprehensive support, is represented by dozens of professors, researchers and subject teachers, each of whom is a professional in his field.

Students are offered additional support in the learning process. If a student has difficulties or special needs based on health, teachers offer:

• Individual lessons in English, mathematics,
• Support in workshops, in the classroom,
• Specialist-note-taker, -reader, -scribe,
• Special conditions of the exam: extra time, rest breaks,
• Specialized software, hardware.

Career staff provide advice and guidance on career and education choices, resumes, interview skills, and job search skills to help students choose the right path or direction for further study.

Additional support also includes student childcare services, which allow students to immerse themselves in learning without worrying about their families.

The university offers courses in more than 10 areas, including:

• Accounting, Finance,
• Art, Design, Media,
• Business
• Childcare,
• Cooking, baking,
• Counseling, Mental Wellbeing,
• Dancing, exercise,
• Digital, creative technologies,
• English, Mathematics and Science,
• Healthcare, social assistance,
• Health, well-being,
• Humanities, Culture,
• Languages
• Performing arts, music.

RHACC does not have its own residences.

The Educated Palate cafeteria offers a large selection of sandwiches, panini, drinks, as well as full meals of hot dishes, salads, fruits.

Volunteering is the main area of extracurricular activities, which makes a great contribution to the lives of both students and the local population. Students will be able to develop personal qualities and gain valuable experience, meet new people, and feel like an important part of the community. More than 700 charities and non-profit organizations have been established in the district that are looking for volunteers aged 18 and older. There are roles that will suit everyone, with varying amounts of time required depending on the nature of the work: from cleaning up areas, fundraising, to physically helping the elderly, students have a wide range of options available to support the community.

Social events are regularly held on the college campuses: concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, thematic evenings. They are organized, among other things, to raise funds that will help low-income students get an education.

• More than 10 specializations of professional courses,
• Free programs for low-income students,
• Matrix Accredited Career Counseling,
• The programs are popular with local companies: CISCO PCAP, Buttercups Training Limited, Electronic and Satellite Solutions LTD, St Mary's University College, Capel Manor College,
• Comprehensive academic and extracurricular support for each student.

The Richmond campus is located just a two-minute walk from the Richmond Underground Station, train and bus lines. The learning grounds have several pleasant features: extensive gardens with lawns, hiking trails, a combination of Edwardian and modern architecture, for which the college has received prestigious awards from organizations including the Richmond Society and the Brick Development Association.

The Surbiton campus is a three-minute walk from the metro station. A Grade II listed Victorian mansion on a hilly stretch of green lawns and gardens, the Victorian mansion offers modern spaces for learning, developing individual talents, and relaxing.

RHACC campus infrastructure:

• Specialized art school with specialized studios, classes, workshops,
• A business school with state-of-the-art laboratories, conference rooms, a library,
• Theater for 120 seats with rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, technical rooms,
• Coworking space for individual and collective work,
• Conference halls, where most of the seminars, lectures by invited speakers are held,
• Classrooms with interactive equipment,
• Specialized workshops,
• Training kitchens with professional appliances,
• Computer Labs with PC, Mac,
• Music studios,
• The Edwardian-style atrium, which is also an exhibition space,
• Outdoor recreation areas.

The academic calendar consists of the following trimesters:

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

Face-to-face classes are held on weekdays, rest is provided on national and international holidays, weekends. Holidays take place every season: in October-November, February, May-June.

Students with high academic performance can study for free.

Additional costs:

• Administrative fee,
• Personal consumables, stationery,
• Off-campus accommodation and leisure, meals,
• External exams,
• Personal expenses.

The enrollment procedure consists of several stages:

• Filling out the online application form, providing the required documents,
• Payment of administrative fees,
• Communication with the admissions committee to determine the most suitable course, clarify requirements, form a study plan,
• Invitations to enrollment, assistance in obtaining a visa,
• Arrive on campus to start classes.

In 2023, Access students received offers from a number of universities, including the University of Cambridge, the University of St Andrews, King's College London, Queen Mary University London, Goldsmiths and the University of Leeds.

International applicants must provide:

• Personal documents: passport, student visa, health insurance,
• IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, or other recognized language test results at a level of at least B1.

If available, the candidate can provide available academic transcripts, diplomas and certificates.

Each year, the RHACC provides a total of £150,000 in scholarships to provide financial assistance to students who are low-income, unemployed or receiving benefits. Scholarships also cover non-academic expenses such as college travel, materials needed for tuition, and childcare.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision