Wiltshire College & University Centre opens doors to prospective students following record-breaking open events

Wiltshire College & University Centre is welcoming prospective students and their families through their doors this winter and spring, following its most successful programme of open events to date. 

More than 2,000 people attended the College’s autumn open events across the four campuses and its specialist University Centre at Castle Combe, with strong interest from young people, adults and parents exploring their next steps in education.

Building on the momentum, the College is hosting a further eight open events across January, February and April, giving prospective students the opportunity to meet lecturers, tour facilities and receive guidance on courses, apprenticeships and university-level study.

Feedback from the autumn events reflected a high level of satisfaction with the overall experience, with many visitors describing the events as welcoming, informative and reassuring. This was matched by strong levels of engagement and confidence, with up to a third of visitors applying on the day and many more saying they plan to apply soon.

Jo Lennon, School Liaison and Admissions Manager, said, “During the event themselves around a third of attendees visited our Admissions Hub to make their application there and then, with many more – in the feedback they chose to give – saying that they planned to apply very soon. It’s a fantastic outcome and shows that our events are helping young people feel confident choosing us as their next step.”

Visitors attending the next programme of open events can expect a welcoming atmosphere and opportunities to speak with teaching staff – both of which have been highlighted as key benefits of attending by those who visited the autumn events.

A parent who recently attended said, “It was brilliant. I’m very excited for my daughter to be going here so she’ll have a good start to be able to do her dream job.”

Another added, “The event went beyond expectations. I didn’t expect to get such a personalised look into the course and the set-up. It was so useful being able to talk directly with course lecturers, and the support staff were all very helpful too.”

For many, attending an open event helped confirm their choices. One visitor said it allowed them to be “100% sure” about the course they wanted to study, while another described the College as “friendly, supportive and feeling like home”.

Dave West, Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications, said, “We are delighted to continue welcoming prospective students and their families as we move into the new year. The response to our open events last year reflects the dedication of our staff and the supportive environment we work hard to create across all our campuses.”

Wiltshire College & University Centre’s upcoming open events will take place throughout January, February and April. Full dates and booking details are available at www.wiltshire.ac.uk.

Pictured: Chippenham campus