We aim to provide detailed advice about our courses before students enrol. The prospectus and the website are the principal sources of information. Detailed course descriptions are available in the Courses section of the website and from Reception. These provide a course outline, describe what prior experience students need (if any), give details of materials needed, and advise students what they can do after completing the course.
Information and advice about the courses is available at all times when the Centre is open, and Reception is the place to start. If they can't help you, they will put you in touch with someone who can, such as someone from the department, or a specialist tutor.
We aim to provide information and advice to everyone, in a format, time and place suitable for all, so if you need information in a different format (such as the prospectus in Braille, or in a quiet place, or any other special arrangements to suit your needs), then do please ask and this can be arranged for you.
If you are looking for a course which we do not offer, or would like to find out what is available in other colleges, there is a small reference library of prospectuses and other materials from other colleges on the ground floor beyond Reception. Staff can copy information for you. If you would like to have a more in-depth discussion about courses, either run here at the Centre, or at another college, we can arrange for you to have a half-hour confidential interview with a specialist advisor. Please ask at Reception.
If you are looking for a course for someone who wants to improve their literacy or learn English, there is a shortened version of the student handbook. Please ask in Reception. See the information on ESOL and literacy classes by clicking here.
Some of our staff speak languages in addition to English, including BSL, so do ask if you need help in communicating. Interpreters can be provided if required; this is organised by the Languages department. Some of our written information, for example the crèche information, the Student Support Fund leaflet and some student policies, such as our Equality Assurance Statement, the Student Code of Conduct and our Commitment to Students statement, have been translated into languages commonly spoken by our students.
Most of our courses are open to all, without previous experience or tutor approval, and the course description gives information to help you make your choice.
Visitor Pass To Try Out A Class To try out a class before enrolling, ask for a Visitor Pass on the day the class takes place. Visitor Passes can only be issued for courses of more than four sessions, and where there is a space. Attendance as a visitor and subsequent enrolment on the class is entirely at the tutor's discretion, particularly if the class has already started.
Support for Students with Disabilities When you enrol, we ask you to indicate on the form if you have any physical or learning support needs, so we can help you from the start of your course. With your permission, our Special Needs Coordinator will share this information with your tutor, to enable them to support you properly.
A range of physical and other support (e.g. hearing loop, Braille notes) are also available. Once the arrangements are made, the Coordinator will keep in touch with you as you go along, to check that things are going well. If any issues arise with regards to your support arrangements, do contact him/her.
Support For Students With Learning Difficulties
We do not offer specific courses for students with learning difficulties. However, we are happy to try and find a course for you at the Centre. Please contact the Head of Department of the subject area in which you are interested. We will do our best to accommodate you at the Mary Ward Centre, or to refer you to somewhere else if we cannot provide what you need.
Additional Learning Support If it becomes clear after you have enrolled that you require additional learning support to help you complete your studies, then your tutor can arrange this through the English Department.
How Do I Join?
You Can Join Most Of Our Courses Without Interview.
However, some courses need tutor approval and are marked by an asterisk in the prospectus. More specialised advice is available for students enrolling on these, and most have a separate application process, which involves an interview.
Application is by interview for:
All accredited courses, e.g. Access to Art and Design; ITEC courses; Community Interpreting and Translation; Counselling; ECDL, CLAIT.
Some yearlong accredited courses start enrolling from May, for entry in September, and interviews are held in July and early September; see prospectus and course information for details
Some shorter accredited courses have termly start dates, with interviews; see prospectus and course information for details.
Application is via tutor assessment for:
English (ESOL) and Literacy classes. Special advice and enrolment sessions take place during the week before term starts in September. Click here for Term Dates.
ESOL advice/interviews also take place weekly during term time: Tuesdays 3.00 – 5.00pm and Wednesdays 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Application is via tutor approval for:
Music - Instrumental courses above beginners and Level 1. This is usually done on the first meeting of the class in September. Please bring your instrument.
Application is via self-assessment for:
Languages courses above beginner level and Intermediate Bridge. These courses have self-assessment forms, to help you judge your own level. These are available by clicking here for Bridge and here for Languages and from Reception.
All other courses are open to all.
Guidance Surgeries
If your needs have not been met by our general and specialist advice staff and you need further guidance, you can ask for a half-hour interview with the Principal, Vice-Principal or Student Services Manager. Please contact reception for further details. The centre does not have a dedicated full-time educational guidance or careers guidance service, but we do know where to refer you to should you need such services.
