Student support

Students can talk to their tutor about any concerns they have around their course.  Tutors take responsibility for the general welfare and progress of a group of students, whom they meet on a weekly basis.  Your tutor is your first point of contact and can provide support and, if necessary, seek further assistance on your behalf.

The college’s tutorial programme is a comprehensive programme, covering a variety of topics including careers guidance, environmental issues and university and job applications. The programme also incorporates a number of events.

Weekly tutorial support is available through the medium of Welsh and Oxbridge/specialist tutorials are also available.












Student Services
The Student Services Team is here to help you enjoy college life to the full. The Student Services team can help with a range of support issues including funding advice, careers guidance, course advice, health and welfare.  The college’s specialist student support staff are available at Gorseinon, Llwyn y Bryn and Tycoch.

GCSE Re-sit Opportunities
Students will be strongly encouraged to re-sit GCSE English, Mathematics, Science and Welsh (First Language), where required, and provision is made for these subjects to be studied within the first year of their course. Examinations will usually be sat at the end of the first year of study.

Additional Learning Support
This is available for students with additional needs including dyslexia. Specialist equipment is available as well as one to one support.

You should inform us at the application stage to ensure we can apply for the right support. Our team can discuss any disclosures in confidence, identify specific needs prior to joining the college, make reasonable adjustments to help you achieve and provide auxiliary aids. All disclosures will be treated sensitively and used only for the potential benefit of the learner.

Study Skills
We can help you improve both your literacy and numeracy skills with specialist tuition. At the Student Skills Centre at Gorseinon we will help you with revision skills and coursework and will proof read your work. Additional resources are also available, such as computers, laptops and educational software to aid literacy. 

Oxbridge/Specialist Tutorial
The number of students progressing to higher education from the college is amongst the highest in Wales.  The 2010 cohort were accepted to study at universities and specialist colleges throughout the UK and a record number of students received university scholarships.

A significant number have progressed to Oxford and Cambridge each year over the past decade - 25 students have been accepted during the past three years.  Our Oxbridge Preparation Programme tutors provide individual support for those who wish to apply to Oxford or Cambridge University.  In the spring term of the first year the different courses offered by universities are discussed and students are given information which will help them to make considered choices. Visits to Oxford and Cambridge and visits to the college by Oxbridge undergraduates and liaison staff are essential elements of the programme.

During the Summer term emphasis is on individual guidance through the early stages of application; subject-orientated discussion groups are organised for serious applicants.  For the second year, students are moved into an Oxbridge Progression Tutor group for the run-up to interviews.  Interview technique and mock interviews are key elements here. Students are also fully supported throughout the interview period.

Fifteen students progressed to medical schools during 2010, including four who went on to Oxbridge Colleges.  A further four students are studying to become dentists and another is following a veterinary medicine course at Oxford.

Students who have expressed an interest in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or related careers, are given weekly tutorial sessions during their second year of study.  These provide the opportunity for them to discuss current ethical issues and medical breakthroughs and to receive advice on interview techniques. 

Performing Arts students are guided through the application procedures for specialist colleges and prepared for auditions. 

This good practice of preparing students for the next step in their education, and of supporting them through the application and interview processes, is replicated across the whole of the college.  Students benefit from a structured tutorial programme, visiting speakers, visits, enterprise activities and participation in relevant national competitions, where they have an excellent track record.