Higher Education Admissions Process

Complete an online application: Start by visiting our website www.serc.ac.uk. There are a number of ways you can search for a course:

1. You can use our course wizard which will return results based on the criteria you enter
2. Type key word for something you are interested in,
3. Go directly to Higher Education section.

Once you find the course you wish to apply for, you add it to your basket. You can add up to a total of 3 full time courses. When you are ready to apply, simply click on the ‘checkout’ icon.

Pre-Entry Advice and Guidance Sessions: All our Higher Education courses require you to attend a pre-entry advice and guidance session;

You will receive an invite via email. This email invite will give you full details of the content of the pre-entry advice and guidance session. The College aims to hold sessions once a month starting in April annually and continuing through to June.

Applicants will have the opportunity to accept or decline their invite via their online app.

All HE applicants will also have to sit some form of assessment in addition to attending the pre-entry advice and guidance session. Some of our courses such as Performing Arts / Photography / Music will also require you to bring a portfolio / perform an audition. Full details will be provided on the email invite.

The outcome of the Pre-entry advice and guidance session will be communicated to you via email. Potential outcomes are Conditional Offer, confirmation of enrolment (providing entry criteria has been satisfied), further interviews to follow or not successful. In the event that you are unsuccessful, the College will endeavour to direct you to a more appropriate course option.

Queries regarding applications or enrolment – all queries should be emailed to admissions@serc.ac.uk. You can also telephone 0345 600 7555.

The outcome of this will be a Conditional Offer, providing you pass the assessment. If you don’t pass the assessment, we will refer you to our Careers Service who can give you advice on other courses.

Attend Pre-enrolment appointment: All students who hold a Conditional Offer will be invited to attend a pre-enrolment appointment. The purpose of this is to confirm that you wish the Conditional Offer to stand and to complete some final checks on your way to being a fully enrolled student. You will need to produce identification for example a driving licence or passport. Attendance at this session is mandatory. 

At this appointment we will also discuss funding options . All Higher Education students need to confirm how they plan on funding their course. There are three options:

1. You can apply for a tuition fee loan through the Student Loan Company
2. You can set up a Direct Debit and pay your fees in 3 instalments
3. You can pay in full at the point of enrolment and avail of a 5% discount off the tuition fee

If you are using Option 1 you should apply as early as possible, you don’t need to wait until August, and as soon as you have confirmation you should upload to your account. 

Provided you have completed all the necessary steps at the pre-enrolment appointment, your application will be moved to ‘pre-enrolled’ status. All you have to do now is wait for your results in August.

Enrolment Authorised: As soon as you get your results in August, you need to upload them to your online account. On results day, our teaching teams will be checking the applications and reviewing the results as they come in. Providing you have uploaded your results (in picture format) by 10am, AND there is still space on the course, your application will be moved to enrolment authorised. Places are offered on a first come first basis.

Enrolment Authorised – confirming your enrolment: It is at this point that you must upload your Student Award letter from Student Loan Company if you haven’t already done so OR a Direct Debit Mandate to your online account. You will then be referred to our Customer Services area to complete the enrolment process. If you are planning on paying your fees all at once, this is when and where you will do this.

Enrolled: Once you have received an email confirming your enrolment, that’s you all done! You will received an acknowledgement that you have secured your place and we will write to you at the end of August confirming your start date and time.

We look forward to welcoming you to SERC in September.

General Entry Requirements

English Language Requirements for Non-Native English Speakers

All teaching at SERC is carried out in English and tutors must be convinced that you have sufficient fluency in English to cope with your course from the start. Therefore, all non-native English-speaking applicants who have not undertaken their final two years of schooling in English, must satisfy one of the following requirements:

• Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2.
• IELTS 6.0; (minimum of 5.5 in all skills).
• PTE 51.
• Or equivalent (Examples of equivalent qualifications would be a GCSE in English, Level 3 Programmes, Essential Skills in Literacy – Grade C, ESOL Level 2 or another qualifications gained at an Institution within the UK).

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning

Learning you have gained from work or other experience may be used to demonstrate your ability to study your chosen course.

You must provide evidence of some reasonably substantial and significant element of learning for a process of formal assessment by the College.

You will be required to attend an interview and submit a portfolio of evidence. For further information contact srankin@serc.ac.uk.