enrol Archives - Capital City College Group

Want to study at a further education or sixth form college this year? Here’s our advice on choosing a place to study and how to apply.

Studying at a further education or sixth form college is a significant step towards university and great careers.

Making an application to college can be an exciting yet daunting prospect for many students, so here’s our guide on how to secure your place of study.

Before you begin your application, it is important to research the various colleges in your area. Many colleges have open days and taster events to give prospective students the chance to learn more about then and what they have to offer. Look at their course offerings, entry requirements and any additional information, such as extracurricular activities, facilities and student support services. This will help you to determine which college is the best fit for your education and career goals.

Capital City College Group (CCCG) comprises City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, and apprenticeship and training provider Capital City College Training. Our colleges offer A Levels, T Levels, BTECs and many other technical and vocational qualifications as well as apprenticeships in various subjects to give you the skills, knowledge and experience for university and your future career.

Once you have identified the colleges you are interested in, it is time to start the application process. Most colleges will have an online application system require you to set up an online account. When applying to CCCG you will be asked to provide your personal details, your education and employment background and other supporting information and documents. You only need to complete the full application form once no matter how many courses you apply for across CCCG.

There is no commitment at this stage, but it is advisable to submit your college applications as early as possible. You can choose as many courses at as many different colleges as you like, so you have plenty of options to choose from when you come to deciding on your preferred college.

As part of the application process, you may also be required to attend an interview or assessment day. This is an opportunity for the college to get to know you better and assess your suitability for the course, and for you to find out more about what the college has to offer. At CCCG we will find the right course and career pathway for you.

You will later be invited to enrol on your chosen course. When enrolling at CCCG you will need to bring documents to show proof of UK residency and for some courses your previous qualifications or exam results.

All our courses at CCCG are free up to Level 2 and some at Level 3 and 4. If you are over 19, you will need to provide information regarding your income, such as payslips or evidence of benefits, to be prove your eligibility for our free courses. If you are required to pay tuition fees, you might want to consider an Advanced Learner Loan. Our Admission teams can advise on loans and provide you with a learning and funding letter to support your application.

When you start college, you will have access to a whole range of student services including careers advice and help with UCAS applications, student welfare, employer workshops, sports and other enrichment activities. By making the most of these opportunities at college, you can ensure a successful transition to higher education or career and a bright future.

Find out more about all our courses and apprenticeships and apply here.

When Fadi Faroukh arrived in the UK after fleeing war-torn Syria as a teenager he had been deprived of education for five years and was unable to speak English.

Fast-forward another three years and the former Westminster Kingsway College student is now studying for a MEng Civil Engineering at the University of Bristol.

The devastation of the ongoing civil war in the Arab state has so far claimed the lives of more than 300,000 people including members of Fadi’s family and friends.

“If you went out of your house, maybe just to get food, you knew you might not come back. There were air strikes all the time,” said Fadi, 20, who now lives in Neasden, north London.

“You’d see the bombs coming down from the planes but don’t know where they’re going to land. That’s the scary thing. You cannot move, you just stare and think maybe I’m going to die.

“A lot of my cousins and uncles died and my friend as well. Thank God I left, and I’m here.”

The war ended Fadi’s school education in Syria when he was 10 and a year later he began working with his father in construction and then as a car mechanic.

After arriving in the UK, he started at The Crest Boys’ Academy in Neasden in Year 10 where he gained GCSEs in English, maths and science and an A Level in Arabic in 2019.

Fadi went on to achieve a Distinction on an Engineering Level 3 Diploma and an A* in A Level Maths at WestKing to secure his place at university where he has just completed his first year.

“Not all colleges offer you the chance to study a BTEC in Engineering and A Level Maths. It’s a very rare combination and the perfect way to get to university or an apprenticeship and the reason I chose WestKing,” said Fadi.

“Another good thing about this college, is that it brings in engineers every month or so, which is a really good opportunity to ask questions about their career and what you will be doing in the future.”

Fadi took A Level Maths because he saw it as “the foundation of engineering” but is a strong advocate of the BTEC in preparing him for university and his career.

He said: “With the BTEC you learn more about engineering and the subject you are interested in studying at university and what you are going to be doing in real life, rather than A Levels which only offer physics and chemistry for this kind of career. For me, it’s a better choice.”

Fadi welcomed the support he had from his teachers at WestKing both in developing his engineering skills and improving his English and helping him to apply for university.

“At the beginning I struggled with my English, but my teachers helped me so much. If I didn’t understand something, they would sit with me and explain it. They were all very supportive,” he said.

“Everything has changed since I came to the UK. Now I’m at one of the best universities in the UK doing what I love.”

Engineering is one of the UK’s largest sectors employing 5.5 million people and is also one of the broadest with careers in mechanical, electrical, chemical, and civil engineering as well as new green technologies.

Your guide on how to apply for college

Want to study at a further education or sixth form college this year? Here’s our advice on choosing a place to study and how to apply.

Studying at a further education or sixth form college is a significant step towards university and great careers.

Find out more about all our courses and apprenticeships and apply here.

Syrian war refugee secures place studying engineering at university

When Fadi Faroukh arrived in the UK after fleeing war-torn Syria as a teenager he had been deprived of education for five years and was unable to speak English.

Find out more about our Engineering courses and apply here.