Applications for Higher Education (Full-time/Part-time), Further Education and Traineeships/Apprenticeships

To apply for a course, you must submit an online application.  You can find out more about the process by visiting the How to Apply section.

Applications are typically accepted up until October for the upcoming academic year, however deadlines for some courses may vary.

We aim to follow the timeline below when processing your application: 

•    You will receive an acknowledgement from the College within 5 working days of receipt of your application.
•    After your application has been acknowledged, a member of the course team will be in contact. At this stage, you may be asked to provide additional information.
•    Depending on the course, you may be invited to attend an information session, an individual or group interview.
•    If you have a learning difficulty or disability, additional support can be arranged, where appropriate.
•    If you are apply for a Traineeship or Apprenticeship you may be required to complete an aptitude test.

Decisions on Applications
Once your application has been processed one of the following decisions will be communicated to you:

•    Unconditional offer (a firm offer) – you have already met the entry criteria and are offered a confirmed place.
•    Conditional offer – you will be offered a place subject to meeting specific conditions.
•    Offer of an alternative course – if you do not meet the requirements for you chosen course, an alternative course may be suggested.
•    Rejection – your application has not been successful.

If your chosen course includes a work placement involving children or vulnerable adults, you will be required to apply for Access NI clearance and, if applicable, register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority. 

Note: 
Submitting an application does not guarantee a place on any course.

Entry Requirements
You can find the entry requirements on course information pages on the College website. If you have relevant experience, your application may be considered through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). To help you determine whether you meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, a guide on Qualification Equivalences is also available. 

The College recognises that not everyone has gained formal qualifications, and where possible, will offer alternative courses to support your progression. If you are a mature applicant, with or without formal qualifications, you may still be considered, provided you can demonstrate the motivation and ability appropriate for the programme.

In cases where a course is oversubscribed, the curriculum team will manage the selection process, which may include enhanced criteria. If you do not meet the entry requirements at the start of the academic year, the College may offer you a place on an alternative course.

Enrolment
To secure your place on a course you must enrol online. You can enrol online from the comfort of your own home – it is quick and simple.  If you need any assistance enrolling online or want to discuss your application, visit us on-campus during our enrolment days. 

If you have received a firm or conditional offer, you will be required to upload your exam results, supporting documents, and one form of official photographic identification as part of the enrolment process.

For Traineeships or Apprenticeships, you must also upload:

•    A copy of your National Insurance number (this can be an official letter from HMRC or a National Insurance card)
•    One form of official photographic identification
•    Your official certificates or results

In addition, Apprenticeship applicants must upload a completed Employer Response Form and, if applicable, a Vision Verification Form (required for Electrical Installation – AppNI only).

Offer of Admission
On Enrolment Day, if you are successful you will receive a formal offer from the College. You will be asked to accept or reject the offer. An offer will be withdrawn if proof of qualifications is not provided or an acceptable Access NI check is not obtained where appropriate. In exceptional circumstances, such as under-subscription, a course may be withdrawn by the College.
 

To apply for a course, you must submit an online application.  You can find out more about the process by visiting the How to Apply section.

If you are applying for a part-time course that requires attendance at an information event, the application will follow the same process as outlined under the decisions on applications. You will be asked to secure your place as early as possible by completing your enrolment and contacting any campus reception to pay your course fees.

If your part-time course does not require an information event, you will receive an email requesting that you enrol and pay your fees in order to secure your place.

Please note that your place on a part-time course is not guaranteed until you have met all entry criteria (if applicable) and have completed the full enrolment process, including payment of fees or confirmation of payment arrangements. In cases where application numbers are high, the College may introduce interim closing dates.

For part-time courses delivered online, a Microsoft Teams invite for your first class will be sent via email or SMS. You should ensure you know how to transfer the link to your PC or laptop in advance.
You are also encouraged to download the Engage App, where you can view your student number—this is required to access your College email account. The Engage App is available on Google Play and the Apple Store.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the personal details you provide to the College are kept up to date. This includes your email address, mobile number, and postal address, so the College can contact you directly throughout the admissions process.

Further details can be found in the admissions policy
If you have any queries, please contact admissions@nrc.ac.uk

Student Status/Residency

To comply with United Kingdom Visa and Immigration (UKVI) regulations and to assist with fee assessment, you will be asked to verify your student status and residency when enrolling at the College.

Who is permitted to study in the UK?
You are permitted to study in the UK if you fall into one of the following categories:

•    A UK and Irish Citizens
•    An EU Nationals with Settled and Pre-Settled Status (or with proof you have applied for this status).
•    A person with indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
•    A holder of a current Student Visa or Biometric Residency Permit holders.
•    An individual otherwise permitted under the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

Home or International Fees
The fees and funding for the course(s) you apply for or enrol on will be classified as either home or international, based on your immigration or residency status in the UK at the start of your course.

In some cases, a further assessment may be required and additional evidence requested. Evidence of your Right to Study in the UK will also be required.

If you pay home fees but are later classed as international, you will be asked to pay the difference or may be withdrawn from the course.

Important Note for International Students
We currently do not have a Tier 4 licence and cannot accept international students who do not meet UK residency requirements.

If you are classified as an international student and wish to study Higher Education, you should contact another Further Education College in Northern Ireland to see if they are licensed to accept international applicants. You can find contact details for all colleges on nidirect.gov.uk.

Providing Evidence of Your Right to Study

To complete your enrolment, you must upload official evidence of your identity and your right to study in the UK to the online application portal.

This information is required to:

•    Confirm your identity for any qualifications you will take
•    Verify your eligibility to study in the UK
•    Determine the fees you are required to pay

If you are unable to upload official proof of your identity and right to study, you cannot proceed with your enrolment.

If you cannot prove your right to study, you may be required to withdraw from your course.

What Evidence Do You Need to Provide?

To enrol, you must provide:

•    Photographic identification (for example, passport, driving licence, or national ID card)
•    Proof of your right to study in the UK, based on your immigration or residency status

If you are unsure which documents are acceptable or are unable to provide the required evidence, please contact admissions@nrc.ac.uk for advice.
 

Accreditation of Experience

We recognise and value your learning gained through previous experience. Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is the process where you can request credit for learning that you have acquired through life experiences (such as uncertificated or unaccredited training or workplace learning), demonstrating that it is equivalent to the achievement of the learning outcomes for a specific module or level of study.

Examples of experiential learning are:

•    Work experience (paid, unpaid or voluntary)
•    Non certificated training

Accrediting your previous learning and/or experience means that you can use it to:

•    gain entry into higher education (Level 4 and above courses); and/or
•    count towards your course requirements.

How to apply
You must contact the appropriate higher education course director. APEL applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the start date of the programme. More detailed timeframes can be found in the APEL Policy. NOTE: your APEL must be relevant to the course you wish to study.