Holy Cross College and University Centre, Bury

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How To Apply

From School to College

If you are a Year 11 pupil, you have a big decision to make; should you go on to further education? If so, where should you go and what course should you study? At Holy Cross we will do as much as we can to help you make an informed choice, and this prospectus is just one way for you to find out information. You may already have been to our summer term open evening, but the real process of applying begins in Year 11.

You may hear a talk from us - we are invited to many high schools in Bury and beyond. This would provide one opportunity to ask questions of staff and students. You are invited to an open evening in the autumn term. Details are sent to local high schools and are in the local press (we strongly advise you attend one of these). When you have found out what you need to about Holy Cross and if you feel it is an appropriate environment for you, you can complete an on-line application. There will be a closing date for this and it is very important to meet this deadline. It is likely that this date will be before the end of your first term in Year 11, early in December.

We will invite you for an individual interview at college. This enables both you, and us, to be sure that life at Holy Cross would suit you and your needs, and that the course applied for is the right one for you. Your Progress File can be very useful here. We will offer places as soon as possible after your interview. These are, in part, conditional on GCSE results (see Admissions Criteria below).

After your GCSE exams we hold a New Students’ Day. This involves students in a full day at college where you can find out more information about the subjects you have chosen. The enrolment process begins soon after your GCSE results are published.

Admissions Criteria

We believe that Holy Cross is unique, and it is important that you are completely aware of the kind of place it is. You will have access to information about us from a variety of sources including this prospectus, open evenings and talks in high schools. Due to its distinctive religious character, Holy Cross gives preference in its admissions to Catholic students, but it welcomes student applications from all faiths. Once students are members of the college all are treated on an equal basis. Catholic students from Bury and the surrounding area are usually guaranteed places providing that their application form is received by the closing date, the college has a suitable course for them and they meet the entry requirements. There is an upper limit on places available on courses and in the college, and if our analysis of applications shows that either the college or certain curriculum areas may be oversubscribed, we may operate a reserve list and a waiting list. In offering places we take into account:

• The interview which will concentrate on the course you have chosen and whether Holy Cross is suitable for you.oly Cross is suitable for you.
• Your application form.
• Inform• The date of receipt of the application form, if after the closing date.

If application numbers are extremely high, non-Catholic students may be asked for higher grades to guarantee a place. However, we must emphasise that, to date, all students who have received conditional offers have gained a place with the minimum grades for the course required (i.e., 5 GCSE grade Cs for Advanced Level). Places are conditional upon students meeting the college entry requirements.

Feesional upon students meeting the college entry requirements.
Normally students aged 16 - 18 are not charged fees for their studies at Holy Cross. However there may be exceptions, and if you have not been resident in the UK or European Economic Community (EEC) for three years prior to enrolling at Holy Cross, it may be that you will be charged up to the full cost of your chosen course. If you have any other reason to think that this may be an issue, the following information may be of value to you: ‘The provision of education at Holy Cross College is funded through the Learning and Skills Council in line with the Annual Statement of Priorities which can be found on the LSC website (www.lsc.gov.uk ). In general, overseas learners are not eligible for Learning and Skills Council Funding and as such the college may charge the overseas student the full cost fees relevant to the academic year. The definition of an overseas student can be found on the LSC website in the Funding Guidance for Further Education Circular for the relevant academic year. Alternatively a copy of the specific guidance can be obtained from the college CIS department. The college reserves the right to require proof of eligibility for funding from a student in accordance with the LSC funding guidance.’

Courses Available a student in accordance with the LSC funding guidance.’

Courses Available

The links to the left tell you about the individual courses available at Holy Cross. You need to read the information together with our booklet on entry requirements (available at interview or from the college). You can also pick up sheets about the subjects at Open Evenings. Although the transition between GCSE and AS/ALevels can be difficult, we are very experienced at dealing with it, and all our courses aim to quickly help you settle in to the type of work required. You will need to be self-motivated and to be prepared to do a lot of independent stuA-Levels are now split into AS-Level (first year) and A2 Level (second year), and exams are taken at the end of each year, with some modules in January. Most students at Holy Cross will take 4 AS Levels in their first year, and go on to take three of them in the second year. However, we always examine each student’s needs individually. All students on advanced courses also take a General Studies qualification. Students who do not attain the qualifications necessary to start an AS Level course can take an intermediate vocational course in Business subject to availability of space, and as long as the course is suitable for them. Students who start at Holy Cross without a GCSE pass at grades A-C in Maths or English will normally be required to re-sit the GCSE or take an appropriate qualification. Students who have no GCSE or equivalent qualification in IT will be required to take the college’s Level 2 course in IT. If there is sufficient demand, GCSE Biology will also be available.

Minimum Course Requirementsd, GCSE Biology will also be available.

Minimum Course Requirements

Students at Holy Cross must be studying at least three advanced level subjects, or an equivalent intermediate course, plus other lessons such as General Studies, Tutorial, General RE and Key Skills.