Student Life

In addition to your main studies, we want you to participate in a range of other activities, which will broaden your interests and help you to enjoy your leisure time. In doing so, this will also help you to develop your CV, providing you with the skills that may interest employers or universities.

Trips and Visits
Many students take the opportunity to experience places and environments different to their own. Over the last couple of years, groups have made visits to places like the Lake District, York, Edinburgh, Norfolk, as well as visits abroad to Paris, Barcelona and New York.

Click here to see photographs from student trips

Relax and Socialise
There's plenty to do when you're not in lectures or studying. You can relax with friends in the Food for Thought Cafe or student social area. Additionally, many students use the facilities in our leisure complex, including the sports hall and fitness suite.

Activities and Clubs
Our Learner Involvement Coordinator works with students to organise a range of clubs, activities and events. A Fresher's Fair is held at the beginning of the College Year, which gives students the opportunity to join the activities that interest them. Last year, activities included -

• Kayaking
• Rock Climbing
• Running (cross-country)
• Mountain Biking
• Football (men and women's)
• Rugby
• Netball
• Circuit training
• Personal training programmes
• Aerobics

Student Union
All students are entitled to join the NUS, the organisation for students. Your NUS card entitles you to a number of benefits and discounts in shops and for leisure activities. For more information on the benefits of being a member, please visit www.nus.org.uk.

Student Opinion
You may wish to become involved in College affairs. You can represent your group or stand for election for the NUS Student Union Executive in College. From here you may represent your fellow students on College committees like the governing body of the College.

Charity Events
Various charity events are held throughout the year, including Children in Need and Red Nose Day.

Volunteering
We provide you with the opportunity to join the Millennium Volunteers Scheme and to work towards The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. These schemes enable you to carry out worthwhile activities in the community.

Higher Education, Employment and Careers Events
We want all our students to progress into higher education, training or employment. Therefore, we provide a number of visits, activities and events which focus on opportunities after College. These include events in partnership with Aim Higher to focus on Universities both in the North East and elsewhere, including Oxford and Cambridge, as well as residential visits to Liverpool John Moore and Carlisle University.

Health, Advice and Events
We want to ensure that you have the opportunity to learn about and practice healthy eating. We are a No Smoking College and we wish to encourage Healthy Eating practices, as well as ensure students understand about safe practices on sexual health, gambling, drugs and alcohol. We work in partnership with the local Primary Care Trust, SHAID and other agencies to ensure students have access to advice and support.