SERC HE Admissions Process

There is a four step admission process for Higher Education:

  1. Complete an online application.
  2. Attend a mandatory pre-entry advice and guidance session.
  3. Complete a mandatory skills assessment
  4. Confirm you meet the entry requirements

Step 1 - Online application

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 'Study' 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.

Step 2 - Pre-Entry Advice and Guidance Sessions

All our full time 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 March annually and continuing through to June.

Applicants will have the opportunity to accept or decline their invite via their online app. Failu re to attend may result in your application being suspended.

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

Step 3 - Skills Assessment

All applicants will also have to sit some form of assessment in addition to attending the pre-entry advice and guidance session. This can be a skills test, submission of a portfolio or perform an audition. Full details will be provided on the email invite.

Outcomes of Pre-Entry Advice & Guidance / Skills Assessment Sessions:

  1. Conditional Offer - the offer of a place on the course if the applicant achieves the course entry requirements and there are places available.
  2. Early Enrolment - The applicant already meets the course entry requirements and successfully passes the pre-entry advice and guidance / assessment session
  3. Application Cancelled - if you do not meet the necessary entry requirements for your chosen course, don't worry, we will refer you to our Careers Team who will be able to help

Step 4 - Academic Requirements and Offer

Applicants are required to upload/submit documentation to provide evidence of the entry criteria being met. The Course Co-ordinator/Tutor will check and approve the qualifications on entry.

Further education applicants will be moved to Enroled providing all of the above is met.

For Higher Education Applicants onlyif all entry criteria have been met and confirmed by the course co-ordinator/tutor, the applicant status will be updated to 'Application Approved' and a confirmation email will be sent.

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

Once we have received one of the above, your enrolment will be confirmed.

General Entry Requirements (for Higher Education ONLY)

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 - Level 2, ESOL Level 2 or other 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.