Higher Education

West Thames College is a medium-sized college of further and higher education [HND, Foundation Degree or BA Hons Degree - i.e. university level qualifications at Level 4 and higher.] with a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. It is the perfect place for you to meet lots of people of different ages, cultures and backgrounds - not just from London, but from all over the world.

You'll take advantage of our newly rebuilt Isleworth campus with state-of-the-art facilities, designed for 21st century learning at its very best – the Atrium Building opened in 2010 and the Sir Joseph Banks Building in September 2011.

These modern buildings contrast with the historical grandeur of Spring Grove House – originally the 18th century manor house of botanist and explorer Sir Joseph Banks, who travelled the world with Captain Cook and was the first ‘director’ of Kew Gardens in 1772.

The campus is surrounded by landscaped lawns and pleasant outdoor areas.

London is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world and it’s the perfect place to study.

If you’re looking for inspiration, you’ve got access to some of the world’s best galleries, museums, theatres, tourist attractions, music venues, film and recording studios, cinemas, architecture, festivals and much more. Then there’s all the top trade shows and exhibitions to visit…

London is also home to the UK’s most prestigious employers in every industry sector, not to mention some of the world’s most famous brands.

West Thames College has all this, right on its doorstep.

The local area
West Thames College is conveniently situated in Isleworth, west London, with good bus, tube and train transport links. It only takes 30 minutes by train to get to central London. There are lots of local places of interest to explore too, such as Kew Gardens, Syon Park, Osterley House, Hampton Court Palace and Twickenham Rugby Stadium, and nearby Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow are excellent for shopping and leisure activities.

West Thames College has an excellent reputation for cultivating students of the highest calibre who are destined to go far. Our students regularly win national and international competitions and gain top work placements.

Our Specialist Makeup students have won the International Makeup Artist Trade Show competition for the last five consecutive years, affirming West Thames as one of the best places in the world to study makeup artistry. Most students are snapped up at their graduation show by top employers from the world of TV, Film, Theatre, Advertising and Cosmetics.

Our Performing Arts and Dance students regularly perform at professional venues, and our Early Years students go on to achieve outstanding grades at Kingston University – a high number of this year’s graduates achieved first class honours degrees.

Progression
Most of our students gain employment in their relevant field of study as a direct result of their course at West Thames College, or they progress to university to top up their HND or Foundation degree to a full honours degree or postgraduate qualification. Students on Foundation Degrees, who are already in employment, progress in their careers, usually into management positions.

Our lecturers are highly qualified professionals with many years’ industry experience. They will share their up-to-date knowledge, skills and industry contacts to give you a real insight into working in your chosen field.

Direct industry experience
Our students love the practical emphasis on our courses and our strong links with industry. Real-life briefs and projects, work placements, industry-sponsored competitions, field trips, and visits to trade shows, galleries, museums, exhibitions and relevant organisations - in the UK, Europe and beyond - form an essential part of our courses.

In today’s highly competitive jobs market, this vocational experience is key to your success, as you will be gaining the essential skills that employers are looking for - it looks great on your CV and helps you stand out from the crowd.

Not only do we offer high quality, practical courses, our fees are much lower than most universities, so you don't get saddled with debt for the rest of your life.

Job-ready in just two years
The advantage of studying for an HND or Foundation Degree is that you will gain a really practical qualification in just two years that will prepare you for work.

And don't forget, if you do a two-year course, you'll only have to pay two years' tuition fees instead of three. You'll also have the option of progressing directly onto the final year of a universiity honours degree with just one more top-up year of study.

The choice is yours!

Our excellent facilities rival those of any university.

The Atrium Building opened in 2010, giving students access to our amazing Endeavour Theatre, dance and performance studios, professional sound and lighting rig, Media Centre with TV studio and music recording and edit suites and makeup artist studios.

The campus rebuild was completed in September 2011 with the opening of the Sir Joseph Banks Building which houses stateof-the-art classrooms, science laboratories, IT suites and modern learning spaces.

Learning resources
Our brand new Learning Resources Centre is situated over three floors and offers all the study aids you need: books, DVDs, CDs, trade journals, specialist magazines, newspapers, reference items and a large collection of e-resources, including curriculum databases and over 3000 e-books, which are accessible both on and off campus. HE [Higher Education ] students have their own IT study area too.

West Thames College is a fun place to study with plenty to do in your leisure time.

Student Common Room
Watch music, sport or films on the plasma TV screens, surf the internet, play pool, table tennis, table football and other games, or just meet with friends in our common room and café areas. And if you want a bit more peace and quiet, you can relax in our HE [Higher Education ] common room.

Student activities
Take part in tournaments, talent shows, trips, competitions and fundraising events, or get involved with cultural awareness events too, such as Black History Month and World Aids Day. We also stage live performances in our Endeavour Theatre.

Gym
Our new gym is fully equipped with treadmills, cycling and rowing machines, cross trainers, resistance machines and weights to keep you fit and toned.

Sports
You can play football, badminton, netball, basketball, cricket, table tennis, volleyball, keep fit, boxing and much more in our brand new sports hall and outdoor pitches. We take our sport seriously – our successful college teams play in competitive leagues and regularly win trophies.

Students' Union
You will gain automatic membership of the NUS. The NUS card gives you discounts for shops and leisure activities. You can also get involved with student governance and have your say through the Students' Union.

Creative Arts Week
In June the college becomes a hive of creative activity – students show off their talent with design exhibitions, makeup shows, film and video screenings and live music, dance and drama performances. Don’t miss out – remember to book your ticket!

Hair and Beauty Salon
Get thoroughly pampered with a beauty treatment or new hairdo and buy professional products for a fraction of the normal cost. See our latest special offers or call the salon on 020 8326 2201.