There's a few things you'll need to consider between accepting your offer and starting your course. This page has everything you need to know!
Acceptance to Arrival
You'll find everything you need to know about preparing to start college in September on this page. We'll be keeping in touch with you throughout the year and we look to make the transition into college as seamless as possible - but there are some things you'll need to think about before starting your course at CWA.
-
Accept your offer
After or during your information session, you'll be given the opportunity to accept your offer of a place at CWA. By accepting your offer, it means that you understand the entry requirements and you are planning to join CWA in September. If you apply for more than one course, you can only accept one offer. If you told us during your information session that you accept your place, we would have already done this for you.
Don't worry if you're not sure how your GCSE results are going to go, in most instances we'll be able to transfer you to the appropriate level based on your results (depending on space available on the lower / higher level).
You can change your mind about your offer at any point on the student portal.
-
Your applicant day - experience a day in the life!
If you're currently in year 11 or aged 16 - 18 and moving to the college from a different education provider, we'd love to invite you to come into the college to experience a day in the life as a college student on your course! These days are an excellent opportunity for you to see what a college day is like and it would be great to see you again. We'll contact you with more details and when they are available to book but please keep the following days free for now!
- Monday 30th June 2025
- Tuesday 1st July 2025
-
Check your student portal
We'll be using your student portal to contact you with updates on your application and starting college. We'll text and email you with any significant updates but you should check that you can log into the student portal and that you've given access to your parent / guardian if you're under 18.
Don't worry if you've never used the student portal yet, you can watch the following tutorial.
-
Focus on your GCSEs!
If you're still in year 11, you would have been given a conditional offer based on GCSE grades; you can find details of this on your student portal or in your offer email. You should continue to focus on your GCSEs and aim for the highest grade possible - not just the minimum grades to gain entry to your chosen course at CWA.
Your GCSE grades can affect your progression into a certain career or higher education and you may not get the opportunity to easily resit all subjects at a later date. For example, if you would like to be a teacher at a primary school, you'll need at least one science GCSE at grade 4 or above, as well as English and maths. You'll need the same to become a veterinary nurse, including two other subjects at grade 4 or above. A recent government survey showed that most employers find GCSEs useful in selecting candidates, with 1 in 4 saying they are “very useful."
If you get a grade 1 - 3 in English and / or maths in GCSEs (or do not have a GCSE in the subject), you will continue to study the subject at CWA whilst studying a level 1 or level 2 course. You can find more details about continuing English and maths with us here.
-
Organise your travel to college
It's easy to get to and from college, as all of our campuses are well-serviced by local bus services. Please go to our transport page below and complete our transport calculator to determine the best and cheapest way to get to college. Please note that, whilst the transport calculator is correct at the time of writing, information, applications and pricing for transport may change with new guidance from local authority or individual transport organisations.
-
Purchase any kit or equipment for your course
For some of our courses it is necessary to purchase equipment, stationery, protective clothing or industry standard kit to complete your course. Whilst our kit requirements for September 2025 will not be updated until end of June 2025, you can find kit and equipment lists for courses which started in September 2024 to get an idea on costs:
-
Apply for financial support (if eligible)
If your household income is less than £45,000 per annum or you are in care or a care leaver, you may be eligible for our financial support scheme which will provide a contribution towards costs associated with college (travelling to college and equipment, for example). Applications will open by the end of May 2025 and you can find further details about what you might be entitled to on the following page:
-
Review your course fees (adults only)
If you are aged 19 and over, there may be some fees to pay for your course. Depending on your education history, personal circumstances and chosen course, you may be able to receive your course fully funded (or partially funded) by the UK government. Our fee calculator below will give you a clear indication on whether you'll be able to have your course fee waived or, if you are studying a level 3 course, covered by an Advanced Learner Loan.
-
Check your timetable and complete your enrolment
We'll be updating our website in June with details on your first day, induction and course timetables. We may not be able to provide full timetables because some courses are split into smaller groups; these groups are generally not confirmed until your induction week. Most courses will start on or during the week commencing Monday 1st September.
We'll also ask you to complete your enrolment on our student portal. You'll check your personal details, upload a photo for your ID card and of your grade sheet (once received) to confirm you've met the entry requirements for the course. You'll be invited to come into the campus the week before the start of term to complete your paperwork and collect your CWA lanyard!