How to Apply

Full-time Courses
Part-time Courses
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Study

Full-time Courses

Applications for full-time further education courses commencing in September 2010 are accepted from 1st October 2009. Once applicants have selected the course they wish to apply for, they need to complete the full time application form and obtain a pre-admissions academic or character reference. Only when this reference has been obtained should the application be sent.

If the applicant is a school leaver, it is expected the reference will be a pre-admissions report completed by the applicants' current school. Additionally if the applicant is under 18 years of age a signature from the applicants' parent or guardian is required.

Students can only apply for one course. If a second application is received the applicant will be contacted and one course choice cancelled.

The initial deadline for applications is 31st January 2010, all applications received by this date will be given priority however applications will be accepted throughout the year.  All applications are dealt with in application date order, for courses that are oversubscribed applications received earlier will be given priority over later applications.

Applicants will receive an acknowledgement card within one week of the application being received by the Admissions department. If you do not receive this you should contact Admissions directly on (01206) 712777 to check that your application has been received.

What Happens Next?

Once your application has been received you will be invited to the College to discuss your course choice with an Admissions Officer. It is expected that you will receive this invitation within three weeks of your application being received. The interview will centre on the College finding out more about the applicant and confirming the applicant has applied for the correct course for them. It is also an opportunity to find out more about College and the course applied for.

Applicants for Hospitality and Food Studies, Music and Performing Arts, and Art, Design and Media will not be invited to the above discussion/interview process. Applicants will be required to undertake a tutor interview or audition specific to the course.

Once the interview is complete your application will be forwarded to course tutors for consideration. As a result of their verdict you may be invited to attend a compulsory course preview. The course preview is an opportunity to meet the tutors and find out more about the course It is very important that this is attended as Colchester Institute will be unable to make offers to applicants who do not attend course previews. If successful applicants will be written to with an offer of a place, if unsuccessful applicants are given the opportunity to make another course choice or be referred to a Connexions personal advisor for further help.

Enrolment for most courses will take place during the week following the issue of GCSE results (27th August 2009). It is highly recommended that holidays are not booked during this time as it may affect your place.

Part-time Courses

The majority of our part time courses commence from September 2009 onwards. Applications for these courses will be accepted from mid-may 2009 when the “Guide to Part Time courses 2009/10” is released. You can pre-order a copy of the prospectus through the Prospectus Ordering Page of the website.

Colchester Institute acknowledges all applications within two working days of when they are received. If you have not received an acknowledgement slip through the post within a week of submitting your application contact the Admissions department immediately on (01206) 712777.

NOTE: Some part-time courses may not require an application form to be submitted, and will be noted as such in the Prospectus. Applicants will be able to enrol onto these courses on a first come, first served basis from the 24th June 2009 onwards.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Study

Applications for our full time degree programmes are made through UCAS at www.ucas.com (with the exception of the Post Graduate Certificate in Education where applications are made directly to Colchester Institute). Students are advised to apply by the initial UCAS deadlines of the 15th January, and the 24th March for Art and Design courses. Colchester Institute will usually consider late applications for courses with places available after the UCAS deadlines and through Clearing.

Applications for part time undergraduate and postgraduate study are made directly to Colchester Institute on a higher education part-time application form or a postgraduate application form both of which can be found on the Courses Application Forms Downloads Page of the website.