Welcome to Access Creative College
Welcome to Access Creative College
Life at Access Creative College is about becoming part of something bigger than just your own personal journey. The friends you make at Access Creative will last you a lifetime, and the connections you make will jump-start your future career. The Access Creative community is somewhere you can find out who you really are, unleash your creative talents, and carve out your place in the world.
Life at ACC is about becoming part of something bigger than just your own personal journey. The friends you make at ACC will last you a lifetime, and the connections you make will jump-start your future career. The ACC community is somewhere you can find out who you really are, unleash your creative talents, and carve out your place in the world.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll be taken to a thank you page where you can book your interview straight away using our online calendar. Simply choose a date and time that works for you and enter your email address – it only takes a couple of clicks. If you’re not ready to book just yet, that’s absolutely fine. We’ll send you reminders, and our Admissions Team may get in touch to see if you need any support. You’ll also receive information by email on how to prepare for your interview, so you know exactly what to expect.
Your interview is a relaxed opportunity for us to get to know you, your interests, and your creative goals. Most interviews take place online, so you can join from home, but face-to-face interviews at one of our campuses are also available if you’d prefer. Interviews usually last around 30-45 minutes and may involve talking through your work, ideas or performing if you’ve applied for a performance-based course. We just ask that you’re in a quiet, comfortable space where you can chat openly.
After your interview, our Admissions Team will be in touch to let you know the outcome and talk you through the next steps. This may include confirming your offer, asking for any additional information, or giving guidance on what to do next. If you have any questions at this stage, our team is always on hand to help – you’re not expected to navigate the process alone.
If you’re happy with your offer and would like to join us, accepting it is simple. Just let us know that you’d like to secure your place, and we’ll update your application for you. Accepting your offer reserves your place for the start of the academic year and helps us support you with everything you need to prepare for joining Access Creative College.
Enrolment usually takes place after GCSE results day. Over the summer, we’ll be in touch with clear instructions on what you need to do, when enrolment opens and any documents you’ll need to bring with you. Once enrolled, you’ll officially be part of the Access Creative College community, and we’ll continue to support you as you get ready to start your course in September.
We want you to feel supported during your time with us, and we’re committed to helping you thrive. Our Learner Services Manager or Assistant Head of Support leads a team who offer a safe, confidential space where you can focus on your personal growth through one-to-one sessions or easy drop-ins — whatever works for you.
Each campus also has a number of Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) to help and support you with any safety or wellbeing concerns. All staff are safeguarding trained, so you can approach anyone for advice or support. The DSLs will make sure you get the right help, whether that’s check-ins, external referrals, or signposting to useful resources, including the Hub of Hope.
Timetables can vary, but you will usually be in 3 days a week. If you need to retake your maths and English then this could add an extra day on to your timetable.
Academic entry requirements are as follows:
No, as long as you meet the entry requirements for your course you’ll be able to study with us.
At Level 2 our focus is preparing you for further study or training at Level 3.
At Level 3 you engage in a month-long Charity Project at the end of the year. This is a virtual work experience activity where you produce work to a brief set by a leading charity. Partner charities include RSPB, WWF, the National Trust and Young Minds. You also benefit from wider enrichment activities including talks and workshops from industry professionals and visits to workplaces and events.
At Level 4, you will interact with a music marketing and management agency to refine your work for professional practice.
If you are aged 16-18 you do not have to pay to study a level 2 or level 3 qualification. If you are 19+ (and don’t have an Education Health Care Plan) then you are liable to pay either by self-funding or applying for an Advanced Learner Loan.
We have a bursary fund at the college that can help students pay for their travel costs to college. You can apply for a bursary when you enrol.
Our Level 3 qualifications carry enough UCAS points to enable students to go to university. We also have students go onto apprenticeships (including through our apprenticeships provider Access Industry, or straight into industry after finishing their course).
We have a bursary fund that can help students pay for their meals while they’re at college. You can apply for a bursary when you enrol.
No, our students go on to study a wide range of academic and vocational degrees after completing their L3 courses. These range from Games Development, Film Production and Music Performance right through to History, Politics and International Relations.
Our vocational courses balance the development of theoretical and practical skills and knowledge with the understanding of context and the industry. You will experience lessons that develop your wider knowledge, your understanding of theory and then apply this to your practice through practical lessons.
Yes, in most cases, if you’re already 17 you can still study at Access Creative College.
The first six weeks of all our courses are designed to make sure that everyone is on the right course. We will check that you are happy with your chosen course. If you’re not sure you’ve picked the right course for you, you will be able to discuss your options for changing to another course.
All of our courses are full time, so you won’t be able to do more than one at once. The only exception is when learners need to take Maths and/or English GCSE alongside their main course.
We need to be comfortable that all learners have the academic ability to succeed on their chosen course. We would always recommend that homeschooled applicants aim to take some GCSEs to be able to easily evidence their academic level. All conditional offers are reviewed against academic achievement at enrolment.
We do not hold a tier 4 licence to allow us to process applications from international applicants. As such, if you are currently living outside of the UK, you would not be able to get a scholarship or student visa to be able to study with us. To study at our college you must have one of the following: UK Citizenship, EU Settlement Status or a Biometric Residence Permit.
