Living & Studying in the UK

Accommodation

We have almost 200 study bedrooms in purpose-built halls of residence. All the halls are just a few minutes' walk away from the main teaching areas. With the help of the Independence Team you will soon familiarise yourself with this route and find your way around campus.

The majority of single study bedrooms in halls are en-suite with access to shared kitchen and dining areas. All rooms are linked to a central communal lounge with comfortable seating, TV and a friendly atmosphere. You will live with other learners of a similar age and interest.

Accommodation for wheelchair users and guide dog owners is available. It is not recommended that guide dogs accompany overseas students. Guide dogs are treated as pets by immigration officials and must undergo quarantine before entering the UK and before leaving the UK.

Our Residential Support Team are there to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so should you ever need assistance, there is always somebody available. Learners who are more confident, in terms of their mobility and independence skills, have the option of living in shared houses on or near the RNC campus. There are “half-way” houses  i.e. semi-supported housing on campus where you can continue to be supported with independence skills as required. Off campus houses offer an even more independent lifestyle. All residences provide an opportunity to develop an independent lifestyle where you retain your privacy but can still have the company of others if you wish.

Single sex accommodation can be arranged on request.

Hereford – the City

RNC is located in the City of Hereford, the county town of Herefordshire, lying in the heart of the Wye Valley situated between the industrial West Midlands and the mountains of Wales, Herefordshire, deep in rural countryside is more accessible than you might first imagine – just 3 hours drive from London or 2hrs 50 minutes on the train, only 1½ hours from Birmingham Airport, 56 miles from Cardiff and 138 miles from Manchester

The city is steeped in history and is home to a glorious 11th century cathedral which houses the famous, medieval Mappa Mundi, which depicts the world as it was known at the time in 1300.

Hereford offers shopping and culture, heritage and leisure.  It has a sophisticated feel with upmarket shopping, European-style cafes, elegant period buildings and plenty of open spaces.  High Town is the hub of the city and has a central space which hosts a variety of events and street entertainment throughout the year.

It is also famous for its white-faced cattle, apples, pears, plums, flowers, hops and cider.

There are also plenty of leisure and sporting activities.  The Leisure Centre can cater for most indoor sports and activities, including gymnastics, trampolining, basketball and squash.  It also has a leisure pool for swimming and diving etc.  For those who prefer the outdoors you will find, amongst other activities, a golf course, athletics track and all-weather surfaces for football and rugby.

To find out more visit www.visitherefordshire.com

Student Life

You will find  life at RNC new and exciting but you may also find it a bit bewildering at first, especially if you are moving away from home for the first time or it is the first time you have been to the UK.  Right from the start,  you will have access to any support you might need – academic, personal, medical or financial – from people who are easy to contact and who can give you expert and friendly advice.
Free time for socialising is an important part of life at RNC. There is a vast range of recreational activities for you to get involved in.

In a typical week, recreational activities might include:

• Cultural activities that allow you to sample the UK experience e.g. trips to London, Bath, York and Liverpool
• Recreational art and design.
• Ten Pin Bowling league
• Recreational dance and drama
• Cabaret night
• Swimming club
• Cricket
• Music technology workshops
• Judo or martial arts
• Youth Club for younger learners
• Acoustic shooting
• Visit to theatre, cinema or concert
• Shopping trip
• Athletics
• Live music in the Students' Union
• Football Trips: Regional, Premiership and International game

Programmes on Offer

No two students at RNC study exactly the same programme. We will work with you to develop a totally tailored programme to suit your needs and help you achieve your personal and career goals.

You could potentially train in one of the following areas that are valued by universities and employers

• Academic qualifications: GCSE, AS and A Levels
• Art and Design and Ceramics
• Administration, Skills for the Working Office
• Business Studies
• Performing and Creative Arts – musical, theatre, dance, drama
• Music Technology , Radio Production, Media Studies and Production
• Sport and Recreation, Exercise and Fitness
• Massage and Complementary Therapies – sports massage, onsite chair massage, reflexology, Indian head massage, nutrition and health

To help you develop your understanding of English language, we can deliver:

• Individually designed English Language programmes
• English as a Foreign Language examinations include including:
• Cambridge ESOL
  • Key English Test – KET
  • Preliminary English Test – PET
  • First Certificate in English – FCE
  • Certificate in Advanced English - CAE
• Cambridge Skills For Life Qualifications ( Entry 1 – Level 2)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - required for entry to Higher Education
  • English Braille certificates BTEC Level 1 - 3

You will also benefit from specialist support in developing essential life skills such as:

• Mobility
• Independence with daily living skills
• Employment Skills, Personal Effectiveness at Work
• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Braille
• ICT
• Oral Communication

Other support:

• Your own Primary Learning Team – a dedicated team of staff who support you with academic and personal issues
• 24 hour residential support in halls of residence
• Medical support
• Counselling
• Therapeutic Intervention
• Information, Advice and Guidance to progression to university or employment
• Leisure activities