What can I wear to College – is there a dress code?
Generally, students are free to wear whatever they like as long as it is not offensive to others. This means that you cannot wear anything too revealing, no offensive wording or logos and nothing that may conceal your identity (unless your religion requires this). However, some courses will require you to wear specific clothing or uniform, or to follow a department dress code – you will be told about this at your interview.
Are there any rules at College?
We don’t have lots of rules and regulations. We do however expect high standards of behaviour, including attendance and punctuality, and these are set out clearly in our student code of conduct. As we are preparing you for your future employment we try to make our code of conduct as close as possible to what will find in the workplace.
We are a large College with students of many ages, nationalities and abilities, and it is important that we operate in an environment of tolerance and respect. We are committed to the core values of British society: democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law, mutual respect and tolerance of other people’s religions and beliefs. We don’t accept any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination and have appropriate procedures in place.
Is there any accommodation at Bedford College?
Bedford College does not have any accommodation of its own. If you are looking for rental accommodation we recommend that you look at the property pages in the local papers or contact local estate agents.
Will I make friends at College?
There are opportunities for you to make friends before you even start your course! You may meet our Schools Liaison team when they come along to your school. They often take along some of our existing students – Student Ambassadors – who are always keen to talk about their experiences at College.
Before your course starts, once you have been offered a place, you will be invited to a one day Welcome Day event where you will meet your tutors and fellow students to experience a short taste of what your course will be like.
Once your course starts you will have an induction programme and your tutor will arrange classes and activities to help you get to know the other students in your tutor group.
What if I haven’t made any friends by this point?
Don’t worry – there are lots of other opportunities for you to meet people!
Enrichment – sign yourself up for some of the fun activities taking place throughout the year. You can find out about the enrichment programme at our Freshers’ Fair.
Student Voice – if you would like to have your say on College life and help to improve things for your fellow students, come along to the monthly Student Voice meetings.
Student Ambassadors – this is mainly a voluntary position but there are may be opportunities to be paid for the time you give outside of normal Bedford College hours. You can help at internal and external events, including open days and careers fairs. More and more employers and universities are looking for the qualities, skills and experiences that make you stand out from the crowd and becoming a Student Ambassador will do just that. We will provide you with the training and support you need and you will receive a Student Participation Award in recognition of your involvement.
Student Common Room (Yourspace) – open Monday to Friday, giving students a chance to relax in their own environment. This is a great opportunity for you to make friends from different courses, as the common room is open to all and is centrally located on the Cauldwell Street site.
Are there any social activities?
You will have the chance to get involved in lots of social activities. Some are linked to your course, such as trips and competitions, but we also have a varied ‘enrichment’ programme which gives you an opportunity to meet people from other parts of the College. The programme varies each year and can include, for example, sports and outdoor activities or music and performing arts. But we are committed to giving you the best experience possible – so if you have an idea or a suggestion for an event or activity, let Student Services know!
What can I do to get involved with the College?
At Bedford College there is a range of opportunities for you ‘make your voice count’. You can:
- join the Student Voice Group or Student Executive and help us improve the student experience
- become a Student Ambassador and help out at open days or school visits
- become a Student Governor
- become a course representative and speak on behalf of your peers
- give us feedback through focus groups and surveys