The Super Six Colleges

Belfast Metropolitan College is a ‘super’ college incorporating Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education and Castlereagh College of Further and Higher Education. It has over 53,000 students enrolled on full-time and part-time courses, making it one of the largest colleges of further and higher education in the UK. It offers course programmes in a wide range of subjects across a variety of levels. Further education courses cover everything from first diplomas and certificates to GCSEs, AS and A-Levels, national diplomas, NVQs, City & Guilds and OCR qualifications. The college offers a wealth of academic and training programme opportunities as well as providing students with access to first-rate facilities and equipment. Click on www.belfastmet.ac.uk for a comprehensive list of the programmes available.

North West Regional College was established following the amalgamation of the North West Institute and Limavady College forming a larger and stronger area-based college located in three main areas: Derry/Londonderry, Limavady, and Strabane. It offers a wide range of study programmes designed specifically to lead students directly into employment or onto higher education such as college or university. It provides a supportive environment for students as well as a wide range of modern, state-of-the-art facilities. In addition to offering a variety of courses across a range of disciplines and levels, it also provides training programmes and services such as The Training for Success programme designed specifically for 16-24 year-olds. It produces skilled and qualified graduates who are ready to assume positions of employment across a number of industries. It was awarded a £31.6million investment package by the Department of Employment and Learning in 2006. Its first-rate facilities include a high-tech conference theatre, sophisticated resource centre and library, and media suite at the Derry/Londonderry campus in addition to a hair and beauty academy, sports and fitness testing laboratory and health science laboratory at the Limavady campus. Visit www.nwrc.ac.uk for a full list of courses, training services and qualifications available at North West Regional College.

Northern Regional College incorporates East Antrim Institute, North East Institute and Causeway Institute with campuses in Coleraine, Ballymoney, Antrim, Ballymena, Magherafelt, Felden, Larne, and Newtownabbey.  It aims to deliver an enhanced learning experience to its 30,000 students as well as wider access to progression routes – whether directly into employment or into higher education. North Regional College offers a wide range of course options which include several BTEC options at various levels and also training programmes designed specifically to give you hands-on training experience. Visit www.nrc.ac.uk for more information about the range of courses available.

South Eastern Regional College incorporates North Down, East Down and Lisburn Institutes. The ‘super’ college offers a wide range of courses which are available at many levels from first diplomas and certificates to NVQs and BTECs. Courses cover a wide range of disciplines – from art and design to carpentry and joinery, beauty and holistic therapy, construction, accounting, media, science and so forth. Click on www.serc.ac.uk for further information.

South West College is the amalgamation of three colleges: East Tyrone College, Fermanagh College, and Omagh College. It now comprises of four campuses in Dungannon, Enniskillen, Omagh and Cookstown. South West College’s curriculum provides a framework that allows students to choose a variety of qualifications suited to their individual needs – from BTEC Introductory Diplomas to Higher National Diplomas, NVQs and Foundation Degrees. The college boasts a wealth of modern, hi-tech facilities and equipment for the benefit of all students. Go to www.swc.ac.uk for more details.

Southern Regional College is the new ‘super’ college incorporating Armagh College, Newry and Kilkeel Institute of Further and Higher Education, and Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education. It is an award-winning college providing a diverse range of programmes that prepare young adults and adults for both employment and further study. There are over 100 full-time further education course options catering for the needs of all learners from the essential skills of numeracy and literacy through to national diplomas, NVQs, City & Guilds and OCR qualifications. Courses include accounting, business, engineering, applied science, beauty therapy, childcare, humanities, Irish, media, music, sports studies, and so forth at a range of different levels from entry level BTEC certificates to degrees. Go to www.src.ac.uk for more information.