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4.03.3
Located at the foot of South Downs National Park, between Brighton and Lewes, Plumpton College offers its students expert teaching and an immersive learning experience across a competitive selection of land and environment degree courses.
All of Plumpton College's degree courses are validated by its partner institution, the University of Greenwich, with this partnership ensuring that the college's programmes are preparing work-ready graduates to transition seamlessly into tomorrow's industries.
From its inspiring and expansive natural campus, Plumpton College offers dedicated, course-specific student training facilities including the Plumpton Wine Centre, a purpose-built veterinary nursing training suite, fully equipped laboratories, an extensive animal management unit, and outstanding equine facilities with an exceptional variety of resident horses.
Recent investments in infrastructure provide students with additional spaces, as well as facilities designed to enhance learning and social environments. The college also has a range of classroom spaces, a common room and an IT suite, as well as Ofsted ‘Outstanding' rated residential facilities, including en-suite rooms. Students can purchase a healthy selection of meals from the on-site dining room and cafes and make use of the bar in the evenings.
Students at Plumpton College enjoy a vibrant community atmosphere, with plenty of sports clubs and societies to get involved in, alongside regular social and academic events throughout the year. Students are able to access a comprehensive range of study and wellbeing support and guidance through the college's experienced student support team.
4.0Plumpton College provides a range of state-of-the-art facilities and constantly invests in campus improvements, such as recent additions to Lambert Farm and the brand new Agri-Food Centre.
Equine studies students enjoy a comprehensive scope of facilities including one outdoor and two indoor arenas, a cross-country course, a treadmill and a weighbridge. The college has a superb selection of horses including a new mechanical horse.
Animal behaviour and veterinary nursing students study at the college's Animal Management Centre, with access to over 180 species of small animals, along with an 800-hectare farm including cows, horses, pigs and sheep.
Plumpton College is the UK's Centre of Excellence for wine, boasting both commercial and research wineries, a sensory evaluation room, and ten hectares of vineyards.
3.3Plumpton College offers a variety of accommodation options on-campus to suit all lifestyles and budgets, including en-suite rooms. These superb residential facilities are rated ‘outstanding' by Ofsted.
Rent ranges from £5,480 to £6,920 per year, with the price including utility bills, food, Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, car parking, gym and launderette access, as well as transport to supermarkets and doctors.
Plumpton College's on-site dining room, cafe and bar offer a broad selection of locally sourced healthy meals and drinks.
Plumpton College is nestled between the picturesque and historic South Downs National Park and the nearby city of Brighton.
Brighton is renowned for its dynamic culture and entertainment scene including lively nightlife, an eclectic selection of restaurants and boutique shops, as well as its famous beach.
Students at Plumpton College can get involved in a comprehensive range of student-run clubs and societies, ranging from the LGBTQ+ society to a sustainability club.
Sport forms an important part of the college's roster of activities, and students can join a number of sports teams including badminton, basketball, cricket, hockey, netball and even 5-a-side football. Plumpton College students also enjoy free gym membership.
2.9The Plumpton College Students' Union is buzzing with energy, and students from across the whole campus regularly get involved. The union hosts parties, runs events nearly every night and represents the wider student community, making sure their voices are heard. There is a dedicated HE officer and new ideas about any aspect of the student experience are always encouraged.
The students' union holds regular events throughout the academic year, including Plumpton Pride and Raising & Giving Day, taking place in May and March.
3.4Career-focussed courses
Plumpton College has its own commercial operations in wine, equine, agriculture and animal science, allowing students to gain hands-on experience while studying. Higher education teaching staff at the college all have relevant industry experience and are experienced in communicating their knowledge and expertise to students.
All of the courses on offer at Plumpton College involve an element of work experience, meaning students spend time learning invaluable practical skills alongside their academic work. This helps to ensure they are in the best position to step straight into a career upon completion of their programme.
Careers support
Plumpton College's designated Careers Hub runs a successful careers programme, regularly hosting visiting industry guest speakers and holding specialist workshops to give its students opportunities to broaden the scope of their knowledge and enhance their future employability. It also serves as a networking opportunity, with students able to connect with potential future employers and build relationships before they graduate.
Students are able to access a comprehensive range of careers support and guidance services, including:
Bursary
Plumpton College offers a higher education bursary fund to eligible students. This fund is designed to assist students applying from a household with a below-average income. Eligible students are able to claim up to £1,000 through the bursary, paid in three instalments.
Eligible students are advised to apply for the bursary as soon as they have been accepted to study at the college, to ensure that their application can be processed in time.
Student Loans
Students applying for an undergraduate degree at Plumpton College can apply for a student loan to cover tuition fees via the Student Loans Company.
Financial support
Any students who need additional funding support during their time at the college can speak to the college's student support team, who will provide guidance and direct them to relevant resources.
Students applying to Plumpton College must meet entry requirements. These vary between courses, and as such, students are strongly advised to check specific conditions for their chosen course prior to application.
While the catalogue of study programmes at the college is more focused compared to bigger universities, the diverse nature of the qualifications means that entry requirements may still vary on a course-by-course basis.
Broadly speaking, for most subjects, minimum entry requirements are as follows:
Foundation degrees:
Bachelor's degrees:
For some courses, grades in specific subjects may be requested, for example, as part of a veterinary course, where biology and one other science form part of the requirements.
Depending on the student's age, there may be a need to demonstrate pre-existing industrial experience for more competitive programmes. Students may also be asked to attend an interview or provide an essay on a given title.
All courses are taught in English. As a result, international undergraduate students are required to demonstrate an overall IELTS score of minimum 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5 (or equivalent qualification).
Students at Plumpton College are required to pay annual tuition fees.
Tuition fees for degree courses commencing in September 2024/25 are:
Plumpton College offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across six core subject areas:
Animal Management
Veterinary
Equine Management
Wine
Horticulture
Conservation, Land Management & Agriculture
Plumpton College's tutors and lecturers all have industry experience, and as a result students receive excellent learning opportunities from highly qualified professionals. Student reviewers praise the small teaching groups at the college, which provide substantial contact time with lecturers.
The college has recently established a higher education research committee, allowing time for staff to focus on scholarly activities and giving students a chance to benefit from lecturers' research and study.
Plumpton College offers a selection of land-based degree courses, all validated by the University of Greenwich to ensure students graduate ready to achieve their career goals.
The college offers a personalised learning experience through smaller class sizes, allowing lecturers and support staff to engage in more contact time with students throughout the week. In addition, Plumpton College students enjoy a top-quality online learning environment and excellent student resources, meaning that learners have access to enhanced support both inside and outside the classroom.
The college's higher education teaching staff all have industry experience, ensuring that students can learn from lecturers with real-world knowledge.
All degree courses at Plumpton College include an element of work experience, allowing students to gain relevant and up to date industry experience prior to graduating. Students complete their course with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to be successful in their chosen career.
At Plumpton College, student experiences and opinions are assessed carefully throughout the year in order to drive student satisfaction and ensure courses meet expectations.
4.0Student welfare is a priority at Plumpton College. Its student support team offers guidance and assistance in the form of mental health and wellbeing services, confidential counselling services and specialist referrals.
The college works with Action Your Potential founder Andrew Wright, who has created an excellent range of wellbeing support materials available to all students to help them become independently resilient.
For tailored academic support, every student is allocated a personal tutor who provides additional learning support and guidance via a series of termly tutorials.
The college has an inclusive learning and development team to help students who have any medical condition, physical disability, mental health condition or specific learning disability. Support includes:
Students can easily contact the support team throughout the week, including via a WhatsApp service.
3.7
