Higher education

• 46% lower fees than most universities
• Smaller class sizes
• Flexible range of courses so you can gain a shorter HE qualification and go straight into employment, or continue to a ‘top up’ third year to gain a full degree
• Strong vocational focus, with work experience built into your course
• Fantastic state-of-the-art facilities equipped with innovative learning technologies
• Local, easily accessible location

HNC and HND

• HNCs are usually one year and HNDs two years
• Practical courses which prepare you for a specific career
• A great choice if you want to progress to work quickly and don’t need a degree to work in your chosen sector

Foundation degree

• Typically two years
• ‘Mini degree’ that gives you fundamental knowledge of the subject area
• Equal to two-thirds of an Honours degree
• Combines academic study with practical experience
• Can be topped up to a full degree

You may be worried about the expense of studying at HE level, which is one reason why choosing Southwark College for your HE studies is a smart move. Our HE course fees are £6,165 per year (full time) or £4,625 per year (part time) – which is considerably lower than most universities.

There are also a range of financial support options available to cover both tuition fees and living costs while you’re studying.

Student loans

There are two types of Student Loans:

Tuition Fee Loan – covers your tuition fees throughout your course, and is paid directly to the College.

Maintenance Loan – helps with living costs such as rent and bills and is paid in three instalments (at the start of each term). The amount you can borrow depends on your circumstances and household income

You start paying back your Student Loan, and interest on the loan, back once you are working and your income is over £25,000 a year

See more information on student loans and how to apply.

You may also be eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan or other support such as the 19+ Study Award, Childcare Grant or Travel Award. Find out more in our Fees and finance section.

Studying at HE level is a big decision and you probably have lots of questions. If you can’t find out what you need to know in our Frequently Asked Questions on this page, just call us on 020 3757 3000.

Does the College offer student accommodation?

We don’t have accommodation of our own but our location close to a number of universities means that there are lots of accommodation options available including halls of residence, flat and house shares with other students, and house stays with local families. Our Student Services advisers can also help by referring you to providers such as Unite Students and Spare Room, as well as local estate agents.

How can I apply for an HE course?

You can apply directly to the College, either on the website application page or by filling in an application form which is available by calling 020 3757 3000.

What will happen after I apply?

You’ll receive an email from the College with a conditional or firm offer. You may also be invited to an interview or audition, depending on the course you’ve chosen. (If we don’t feel the course you’ve chosen is right for you at this point, our Guidance and Support Officers will be happy to help you.)

On results day (for A levels, BTECs or other qualifications), provided you have met the minimum entry requirements, your conditional offer will become a firm offer. We will then invite you for any initial assessments required for your course and you will be given an enrolment date.

What facilities will I use as an HE student?

You’ll learn within Southwark College’s which includes high-tech specialist facilities, open learning spaces, and labs fully installed with the latest learning technologies.

What happens if I find I struggle with HE level study?

We do everything we can to ensure that our HE students are able to meet the demands of their course. Teaching is in small classes with a high staff to student ratio, and our Learning Support and Resource Centre provides help with skills you may need to build such as essay writing, research skills, revision and referencing techniques.

I’m concerned that my level of English is not adequate for a HE course. What should I do?

You have the option of taking one of our IELTS courses, including summer intensive courses, to get you to the right level. We specialise in helping students to improve their English language skills and are an official test centre for IELTS. Find out more about our IELTS courses.

You can also download our HE review action plan and Single Equalities Scheme.