Admission Information:	Full-time applicants should apply by May. Most students have 3 A-levels or equivalent.
Drop Out Rate:	9%
Accommodation:	Most first years housed.

Institution

Founded:	1856
Structural features:	Private college, affiliated to Wales University.
Site:	8-acre campus with woodland in South London.
How to get there:	By train to Norwood Junction or Crystal Palace; local buses.
Special features:	Theological college, training men and women for various forms of Christian service, especially as ordained Baptist ministers. Strong vocational bias. Ministerial applicants not normally accepted straight from school (but welcome from age 19).

Student services & facilities

Student advice & services:	Personal mentoring in small groups; chaplains.
Sporting facilities:	Tennis court, football field and games room.
Accommodation:	14 rooms in college at £62.50 per week, 40-week contracts; 16 self-catering flats/flatlets, including some for married students, year-long contracts.

Study opportunities & careers

Library & information services:	60,000 volumes, over 120 periodical series. Information provision, £140 pa spent for each student (FTE). IT facilities open 24 hours; 8 computers with access to library, mega-stream access to internet.
Other learning resources:	Audio-visual equipment.
Careers:	Placements and college networks help students find employment (95% of full-time students in work within three months of graduation).

Money

Living expenses budget:	Minimum budget of £6000 pa recommended (excluding tuition fees).
Term-time work:	College allows term-time work for full-time students, limit of 8 hours per week (40% believed to work).
Financial help:	Limited bursaries available.
University tuition fees:	Home and international students pay £6000–£6800 pa for first degrees (fee loans available for UK students; limited help for international students).

Courses

Academic features:

Postgraduate research; taught Masters courses (including unique MTh in radical free church movements and conversion MA); diplomas and awards in counselling. Part-time and open learning courses; some 550 distance-learning students.

Awarding body:

University of Wales

Main undergraduate awards:

BD, BTh

Length of courses:

1-3 years (6 years part-time).

Main subjects offered:

Biblical Studies
Church History
Religious Studies
Theology

Student view

Living

A theological college for training Baptist ministers and other Christian workers, as well as providing many part-time training and correspondence courses. Relatively easy to change between different training streams in first term (all share core units). It's in south London, close to all the facilities of central London. Crystal Palace National Sports Complex is five minutes away by car. Can accommodate some students in hall of residence (food and living expenses included in fees). Most students are mature on entry, some international. Social activities are organised for students and their spouses but majority are part-time so limited opportunities for socialising on a large scale. Full-time students are the hub of the community. There is a well-stocked computer-catalogued library and a bookshop on site. Sports facilities include tennis, snooker and table-tennis. Occasional football matches against other colleges.

Summary

Housing: College has some accommodation for married students and families off and on campus. Rooms on campus for single students. Eats: Available on site. The economically and gastronomically astute may be able to provide for themselves more cheaply. Akash Curry House in Croydon is cheap (take your own booze). Drink: No bar on campus. Nightlife: Nothing on campus. Student rates at Fairfield Halls and Warehouse Theatre in Croydon. Locals: Very friendly when approached. Sports: Weekly sports afternoon for those interested and able. Tennis court and croquet lawn on site. Crystal Palace sports stadium. Travel: Buy student railcard. Financial help: Students operate their own fund. College very flexible over fees and charges. Jobs: Some work available on campus outside term time, otherwise local shop work. Best features: Good community atmosphere and exceptionally helpful staff. And worst: Limited opportunities for socialising.

Open days

17th November 2012

Open day from 10am. Includes an introduction to the college; an act of worship; talks on eg preparing for mission and ministry; introduction to the courses; and discussions offered on church placements, finance, admissions etc.