International
Course Guide
Choice
• Opportunity • Success
The College of North West London is a government funded college with a Highly Trusted Sponsor (HTS) licence to sponsor students under Tier 4 of the points-based system.
We can issue a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) to international students wishing to study a vocational course at level 3 or above or to students who want to come to study an English Language course.
We also welcome applications from students who already have a visa, such as a diplomatic, spouse, dependant or work permit visa.
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Find us
Wembley
Willesden
BRENT
Kilburn
M4 Dollis Hill Kilburn Wembley ParkWembley Park Centre
Kilburn Centre
Willesden Centre
M1
Wembley Park Campus
Crescent HouseWembley Park Drive Middlesex HA9 8HP
Willesden Campus
Denzil Road London NW10 2XDwww.cnwl.ac.uk
Hindu Temple Neasden Wembley Stadium Wembley Tower Bridge London Big Ben London Campus CampusBased in the London Borough of Brent, the College of North West London is one of the largest further education colleges in the UK. The College has two centres in North West London - Wembley Park and Willesden - both just 20 minutes from the centre of London and easily accessed by bus and tube.
The College offers a wide choice of innovative programmes and specialises in courses which prepare students for employment or for furthering their career prospects. It
also has links with Middlesex and Westminster universities for students wanting to continue with their education. The College is accredited by Accreditation UK for the teaching of English as a Foreign Language.
Every year 10,000 students choose our high quality courses to help them achieve their career and life goals. We hope that you will choose to join them.
About us
I like CNWL because
there are opportunities
for everyone and you can
explore lots of different
options.
Claudette, South Africa
“
Why CNWL?
Quality
• Study qualifications that are nationally recognised and accredited, including our English language courses which are accredited by Accreditation UK
• Learn from highly skilled and professionally trained teachers with proven expertise in their subject areas
• Benefit from a Government funded college
Location
• Take advantage of being just 15-20 minutes from the centre of London, with excellent transport links close to both our sites
• Study alongside students from up to 120 nationalities, reflecting the College’s location in London’s most multi-cultural borough
Learning
• Study relevant, vocational courses that focus on both the learning and application of knowledge and skills to provide a solid foundation for university or career progression
• Benefit from the small classroom sizes, which ensure high quality teaching and a supportive learning environment
Support
• Get advice and support throughout your time at the College from our specialised staff dedicated to the welfare of international students
• Seek guidance from the course tutors, who are there to help with academic and personal issues
Willesden Campus
Study at one of our two campuses:
We offer a wide range of courses for international
students. These include Higher Education, English
Language programmes, part-time, work-based
and short courses. The list of our current full-time
courses is included at the back of this prospectus.
For information on part-time courses, please check
our website.
Our courses
English as a Foreign Language
We offer courses at Intermediate, Upper Intermediate and Advanced level which all lead to internationally recognised Cambridge qualifications (IELTS, FCE & CAE). The courses last between 12 weeks and a year depending on the amount of training you require. More information about these courses can be found in our dedicated EFL brochure.
Course Subjects
Our most popular subject areas are: Graphics and Media
Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing Business, Accounting and Computing Construction
Engineering and Electronics Health and Social Care
Entry Requirements
All students require an IELTS or equivalent English Language qualification to be eligible for a course. The minimum scores required are:
• English as a Foreign Language - IELTS 4.5
• Access, HND and foundation degrees - IELTS 6.0
• All other programmes - IELTS 5.5
For more information about our courses, including entry requirements, please go to our website or contact the International team.
Level 3 qualifications
BTEC National Diploma:
A two-year programme which will give you detailed knowledge, skills and understanding in your chosen subject. These courses are designed to provide career development options or access to higher education.
NVQ Certificate/Diploma
A two-year vocational programme accredited by training organisations, with a strong element of practical work to qualify you for entry to the work-place or progression to Level 4.
Access courses:
A one-year academic programme to prepare you for higher education. You will focus on the subject you wish to study at university and also take practical modules like study skills, presenting and essay writing.
International Foundation Year
This one-year pre-university programme will prepare you for degree-level study in IT or business-related subjects in the UK or around the world.
You will study academic English, gain study skills and prepare for degree study in your chosen subjects. The course is accredited by NCC, ensuring that successful students will be accepted by a large number of leading UK universities. Full details are on our web site www.cnwl.ac.uk
Higher Education qualifications
Higher National Certificate/Diploma (HNC/HND):
A one or two year vocational programme that is equivalent to the first year (or first and second years) of a UK Bachelors degree. Upon completion, you can apply to enter the second or third year of a UK university Honours degree programme.
Foundation degree:
A two year vocational programme that gives you guaranteed progression into the second year of an Honours degree programme at university
Year 0 programme:
This is a one-year foundation programme designed to prepare you for entry to a Software Engineering subject at university. Successful completion of the programme allows you guaranteed progression to Year 1 of a Software Engineering degree at Middlesex University.
Fees
Our course fees for each academic year are:
Once you have been offered a place on a programme, you will be asked to pay 50% of the first year’s fee in order to accept your place and receive an official letter of confirmation from the College. You will then pay the balance of your fees at enrolment. Please note that we are only able to accept bank transfers for payment of fees. Credit and debit cards can only be used if the card-owner is paying in person at the College.
Term dates
The majority of our programmes start in September, although we do also have January and April intakes for our English Language programmes. Each academic year is made up of three terms:
•
Autumn term
1st week September to 3rd week December
•
Spring term
1st week January to 1st week April
•
Summer term
3rd week April to 1st week July
£3500
for a full-time English as a Foreign Language programme
From £1843
for a full-time programme
£7250
for a Higher National Diploma (HND) programme
When is the closing date for
applications?
31st May. If you are applying for the January or April intake for English as a Foreign Language, you should apply at least a month before the course begins.
How do I apply?
Fill in all sections of our International Application form as fully as possible, including getting your referee to complete the reference section, and send it to the International Office (either by post, email or fax). We will then forward your application to the relevant teacher/s who will make a decision on whether or not you are suitable for the course and/or if it is the best fit with your goals. Once a decision has been made, we will send you a letter confirming the outcome. If it is an offer, we will outline the next steps you need to take in order to accept your place and apply for your general student visa.
What courses are available?
Please access our course search facility online for the most up-to-date list of courses.
When do courses start? How long
do courses last?
All our courses begin in September and there are also January and April intakes for our EFL programmes. The majority of courses are 1 or 2 years long. More detailed information for each course can be found online.
What English Language level do I
need before I apply?
All students require an IELTS or equivalent English Language qualification. For EFL courses, the required minimum IELTS score is 4.5. For our other courses, the minimum required is 5.5 (except for Access and HND courses which require 6.0).
Where can I sit an IELTS test?
Information about IELTS testing centres can be obtained from your local British Council office or from the following website: www.ielts.org
How will I be taught?
Each course is different but they will all usually include a mixture of lectures, seminars, practical work and independent study. Specific information for each course can be found online.
How many students are there
in a class? What age are your
students?
The average number of students in a class is 18. 80% of our students are 19+, with the other 20% being 16-18.
Our students
Bhavin is an aspiring automotive engineer, and chose to study BTEC HND in Vehicle Operations
Management as it would be a useful qualification wherever he wants to work around the world. The
added bonus of living in London, and the glowing references of family and friends who studied here,
made his decision to join CNWL a simple one.
Very pleased with his course, Bhavin says: ‘The course trains you in the right methods and teaches
you all the tools you need to become successfully self-employed.’
In College for two days a week, Bhavin’s Youth Mobility Scheme Visa allows him to work for the
remainder of his week at the Central Mobile garage in
Harlesden, so that he can put into practice
the skills he’s learned at college.
“I’ve always been interested in cars, and CNWL
is preparing me for a career which will hopefully
lead to owning my own garage in the future.”
Bhavin Patel - New Zealand
BTEC HND in Vehicle Operations Management
Zainab studied for her HND in Computing and System Development with us. When she moved to
the UK, she was impressed with the opportunities available at CNWL and how helpful the staff were.
She told us: “I really appreciate the quality of the teaching at CNWL. The staff have been really helpful
both with the academic and vocational elements of the course, organising various workshops and
trips to help us understand the practical side of the industry. I have made good friends in the college,
and there is never a dull moment in class!”
Zainab aims to become a Database Analyst and feels the course equipped her with the skills she
needs to put her on the path to success.
Zainab Kazeem - Nigeria
Rajiv came to CNWL originally to study an electronics course. Enjoying the college and achieving
success on the course, he progressed to complete the National Diploma in Construction and
Electrical Installation.
Rajiv told us: “I had a good rapport with the tutors, and they took the time to talk to all the
students individually. They have always provided good advice and feedback and helped me do
really well in each module”
Rajiv aims to become a Building Engineer, and appreciates how his courses at CNWL have
opened up so many opportunities, and provided him with the skills to help him progress to
University and achieve his goals.
Rajiv Udhin - Mauritius
BTEC National Diploma in Construction and Electrical Installation
Jhonny is a living embodiment of our motto ‘Success Starts Here’. Having come over to
London on holiday he was told about CNWL by his friends and family, and in his own words
“when you get a good opportunity, you take it.” Nine years later, Jhonny is a Welding & Fabrication
Lecturer, a cornerstone of the College’s School of Engineering and a successful property
developer, with a portfolio spread around the world.
Having come over in 2005 to study, Jhonny maintained a 100% attendance record throughout
his 3 years studying at the college, all the while working for John Lewis, as an architectural welder.
Jhonny’s favourite part of the course was the interaction and teamwork, where he believed he
learned better by exchanging ideas and making sense of complicated theories.
Jhonny had plenty of praise for the International Students’
Department, who are there to help any international students
with any problems or issues they may have. He believes
that they “bridge the gap between home and here,
in order to help you feel most welcome” and take pride
in “helping you become a well-rounded person”.
Having grown leaps and bounds through his course,
Jhonny gives this piece of advice for new students,
“Pay attention to the journey, not the qualification.
If you have a good journey, the results will follow.”
Jhonny Enoe – Guyana
When I talk about CNWL,
I always say this is ‘my’
College – I feel relaxed and
comfortable here because I
have all the support I need
–
Jayasri, Sri Lanka
“
“
Applications are open from August until May for
entry the following September.
Please visit the international pages on our
web-site to download an International application form:
www.cnwl.ac.uk/about-us/international
For all our latest news and course information:
www.cnwl.ac.uk
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate
to contact our International Office.
Telephone:
+44 (0)20 8208 5157
Fax:
+44 (0)20 8208 5186
Email: [email protected]International Office
The College of North West London
Willesden Campus
Denzil Road
London
NW10 2XD
United Kingdom
What next?
Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only and every effort has been made to ensure that it is correct. Please note that CNWL does however reserve the right to make changes or cancellations without notice should this prove necessary.