southdevon.ac.uk

South Devon College is a further and higher education institution in South Devon, England, serving its local community with courses that span secondary-age schooling through to degree-level study. It is the right starting point if you are looking for vocational training, apprenticeships, T Levels, adult retraining, or university-level qualifications in the area, and the website is built around two main actions: searching for a course and applying.

Who the college serves

The site organises its offer by learner stage, so you can go straight to the section that matches your situation:

• High School (14–16) — a school-age provision with its own curriculum, uniform, term dates, and transport passes.
• School Leaver (16–18) — sixth form, technical and vocational courses, T Levels, apprenticeships, and supported internships.
• Adult Learning — personal development, English and maths, free courses for adults, online and distance learning, and retraining or upskilling.
• University Centre — higher education and degree apprenticeships.
• Employers — apprenticeship funding, hiring an apprentice, T Levels for employers, and work experience placements.

Course and qualification types

The site also provides a "What Level Should I be Studying?" guide and a "Levels and Qualifications Explained" page if you are unsure where you fit.

How to find a course and apply

1. Use Course Search on the site, or browse by Subject Areas or Search by Passion if you don't yet know the course name.
2. Check the Digital Prospectus for the fuller picture of what's on offer.
3. Read How to Apply for the route that matches you — the process differs between school leavers, adults, and apprentices.
4. Track your application through Applicant Login; there are separate logins for students, parents/carers, governors, and staff.

Support around studying

Beyond teaching, the college lists student services covering financial support, learning support and SEND, wellbeing, travel support, parking permits, and careers advice. There is also a dedicated page for adult students aged 19+ and one for care-experienced young people. Parents and carers have their own information section.

Practical things to check before deciding

• Cost: the site references free courses for adults and financial support, but fees vary by course and by your age or circumstances — confirm the specific course page rather than assuming a course is free.
• Location: campuses and travel support are listed under "Our Campuses" and "Travel Support"; check which campus your course runs at.
• Level: use the levels guide to match a course to your current qualifications, especially if you are returning to study as an adult.
• Timing: term dates and key dates for the academic year are published, which matters most for 14–16 and school leaver applicants.

South Devon College's website lists an "Our Campuses" page as the main reference point for campus information, alongside separate pages covering facilities, gym membership, student life, and commercial services such as room hire and lettings. The site does not publish a single consolidated list of every campus address and facility in the material available here, so the practical answer is: use the Our Campuses page for locations, and the facilities and student life pages for what is available on site.

Where to find campus information

The college's navigation includes a dedicated Our Campuses section under its "About" menu. This is the page to check for:

• Which campuses the college operates and where they are located
• What each site is used for (for example, main teaching sites versus specialist provision)

Because the source material only confirms that this page exists rather than listing its contents, treat Our Campuses as the authoritative starting point rather than relying on second-hand summaries.

Facilities and services mentioned on the site

Beyond campuses, the college signposts several facility-related areas:

The presence of a gym membership page and a lettings/room hire page indicates the college operates physical spaces that serve both students and external users, but the source does not specify which campus each facility sits on.

Student life and community

The site groups several topics under student experience rather than facilities alone:

• Student Life – an overview page for what studying there involves
• Our Alumni – for former students
• Equality and Diversity – a policy and culture page
• Getting Social – likely covering social media or community channels
• Sustainability – environmental commitments across the college

These pages are useful if your question is about atmosphere and support rather than buildings, but they are not a substitute for the Our Campuses page when you need a specific location.

South Devon High School

The college also runs South Devon High School, which has its own separate set of pages covering:

• Curriculum
• Uniform and travel passes
• School day structure
• Reporting absence
• Pupil premium
• Parent feedback

If you are looking for school-level (14–16) provision rather than college courses, these pages are the relevant ones, and the high school's arrangements are described separately from the main college campuses.

How to use this if you are deciding

1. Start with Our Campuses to confirm which site is relevant to your course or visit.
2. Check the facilities and gym membership pages if on-site amenities matter to you.
3. Use Student Life and related pages to judge the wider experience.
4. For room hire, lettings, or partnership enquiries, go to the commercial and employer sections instead of the student pages.

One caveat: the available material confirms these pages exist but does not reproduce their contents, so specific addresses, opening hours, and which facilities are on which campus should be verified directly on the college website before you travel or apply.

South Devon College provides student support and advice across four broad areas: money and funding, learning and wellbeing, practical day-to-day help, and support aimed at specific groups. The college's own navigation lists dedicated pages for financial support, learning support and SEND, wellbeing, travel and parking, reporting absence, student services, careers advice, and separate information for parents and carers, adult students (19+), and care experienced young people. Which of these applies to you depends on your age, course type, and circumstances — for example, a 16–18 school leaver will mainly use the bursary, transport and learning support routes, while an adult learner is pointed towards the adult student and financial support pages.

Financial support and funding advice

The college groups its money-related help under a "Financial Support" section, with separate routes depending on who you are:

• 16–18 bursary and transport applications — listed under the High School (14–16) area, which covers bursary and transport applications for that age group.
• How to apply for an Enhanced DBS — a dedicated page under Help and Advice, relevant if your course or work placement requires a DBS check.
• Support for Adult Students (19+) — a specific page for learners aged 19 and over, covering the support available to that group.
• Apprenticeship funding — information for employers on apprenticeship funding and incentives sits in the Employers section, which matters if you are considering an apprenticeship route.

The site does not publish specific bursary amounts, eligibility thresholds or deadlines in the material available, so treat the pages above as the starting point and confirm current figures directly with the college.

Learning support, SEND and wellbeing

Support for learning needs and personal wellbeing is handled through several linked services:

• Learning Support and SEND — the main route for students who need additional learning support or have special educational needs and disabilities.
• Wellbeing — listed as "Wellbeing Support for You" under Help and Advice.
• Student Services — a general contact point for support queries.
• Careers Advice — available both as a general service and through the Careers section.
• Safeguarding — a standalone area covering the college's safeguarding responsibilities.

If you are unsure which applies, Student Services is the sensible first contact, since it can route you to learning support, wellbeing or careers depending on what you describe.

Practical day-to-day support

Beyond money and learning, the college lists several practical services that affect daily attendance:

The "What Level Should I be Studying?" page under Adult Learning is useful if you are returning to education and are not sure whether to start at a particular level.

Support for specific groups

Some pages are written for a particular audience rather than a type of support:

• Care Experienced Young People — a dedicated page for students who have been in care.
• Support for Adult Students (19+) — for mature learners.
• Parent and Carer Information — for parents and carers supporting a student.
• Elective Home Educated Scheme — for home-educated students.
• Alumni — for former students.

These sit alongside the general Help and Advice section, so if you belong to one of these groups, check the specific page first — it will usually be more relevant than the general support pages.

How to actually get support

The college's navigation shows several login routes — Applicant Login, Parent/Carer Login, Student Login, Staff Login and Governor Login — which suggests that some support processes (applications, absence reporting, permits) are handled through logged-in accounts rather than open pages. The practical sequence is:

1. Identify which category you fall into (school leaver 16–18, adult 19+, apprentice, parent/carer, care experienced, home educated).
2. Go to the matching support page rather than the general Help and Advice index.
3. For anything unclear, use Student Services or the Contact Us page as the entry point.

The available material does not specify response times, appointment availability, or whether support is delivered in person, online or both, so confirm those details with the college directly.

South Devon College runs distinct study routes for three main groups: school leavers aged 16–18, adults aged 19+, and people in employment who want to train through an apprenticeship. The right choice depends less on the subject you like and more on your age, your current qualifications, and whether you want to study full-time, part-time, online, or while working. The sections below set out what each route covers so you can match yourself to one.

School leavers (16–18)

This route is built around full-time study after GCSEs, and the college lists several options under it:

• Sixth Form – for A-level style academic study.
• Technical and Vocational Courses – practical, subject-specific programmes.
• T Levels – technical qualifications that combine classroom learning with industry placement.
• Apprenticeships – for those who want to work and train at the same time.
• Torquay United Football Academy – a football-focused option within the school leaver offer.
• Supported Internships – for students who need extra support to move into work.

The college also publishes an Application to Enrolment Journey for this group, which is the sequence to follow if you are applying straight from school. If you are unsure which level suits your grades, the Grades Explained and Levels and Qualifications Explained pages are the reference points.

How to choose within this group

Adult learning (19+)

Adult courses are organised around different goals from the school leaver route. The college groups them as:

• English and Maths and Essential Skills – for building core qualifications.
• Free Courses for Adults – listed as a separate category, so check eligibility on the individual course rather than assuming all adult study is free.
• Online and Distance Learning – for studying without regular campus attendance.
• Retraining and Upskilling – for changing field or updating skills.
• Adult Personal Development – broader non-vocational learning.
• Education and Teacher Training – for those moving into teaching.
• Access to Higher Education – a common bridge into university-level study.

There is also a Support for Adult Students (19+) page covering practical help, and a What Level Should I be Studying? guide if you are returning to education after a break.

How to choose within this group

• Need English or maths qualifications → English and Maths / Essential Skills.
• Want to study around work or caring responsibilities → Online and Distance Learning.
• Changing career → Retraining and Upskilling, possibly with an Access course first.
• Unsure of your starting level → use the "What Level Should I be Studying?" guide before applying.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships sit across both age groups but are structured around employment. The college's apprenticeship pages cover:

• Apprenticeship Levy Information – relevant if you are an employer.
• Apprenticeship Standards and Trailblazer Groups – how current apprenticeship programmes are designed.
• Employ an Apprentice, Employer Apprenticeship Incentives, and Employer Resources – the employer side.
• Foundation Apprenticeships – a starting point before a full apprenticeship.
• Higher and Degree Apprenticeships – delivered through the University Centre.

If you are a learner rather than an employer, the practical starting point is the apprenticeship vacancy search plus the How to Apply guidance. If you are an employer, the funding and incentive pages are the ones that determine what you can offer.

Higher education and degree-level study

Higher and degree apprenticeships, along with other higher-level courses, are delivered through the University Centre. This is the route to consider if you have finished a level 3 qualification (such as A-levels, a T Level, or an advanced apprenticeship) and want to continue at degree level without necessarily leaving the area or stopping work.

What applies to every route

• How to Apply is a single page covering the application process across the college.
• Financial Support and Learning Support and SEND apply regardless of which route you pick.
• Travel Support and Parking and Permits matter if you are commuting to one of the campuses.
• Term Dates and Upcoming Events are worth checking before you commit, especially for open events where you can compare routes in person.

A practical way to decide

1. Identify your age band and current highest qualification.
2. Match that to the route above — school leaver, adult, apprenticeship, or higher education.
3. Check the level guidance (Grades Explained, Levels and Qualifications Explained, or What Level Should I be Studying?) so you apply to the right level rather than the right subject at the wrong level.
4. Confirm the practical side — funding, travel, and support — before submitting an application through the How to Apply process.

If two routes still look possible, the deciding factor is usually whether you want to be employed while you study. If yes, look at apprenticeships; if no, compare the school leaver or adult route by attendance pattern and level.

South Devon College's website lets you find a course in several ways and then apply online, but the exact route depends on who you are. School leavers (16–18), adult learners, apprentices, and high school applicants each follow a different application path, so the first step is identifying your learner group before you start searching.

Finding a course

The site's main navigation offers more than one way in, so you can start from whatever you already know:

• Course Search – use this if you have a subject or keyword in mind.
• Career Search – use this if you know the job or industry you're aiming for but not the course name.
• Digital Prospectus – browse the full prospectus if you want an overview before narrowing down.
• Search by Passion – start from an interest area rather than a qualification.
• Subject Areas – browse by department or subject if you'd rather scan categories.

If you're unsure what level suits you, the site also provides Levels and Qualifications Explained and What Level Should I be Studying? under Adult Learning. These help you work out whether an entry-level, Level 2, Level 3, T Level, or higher education course is the right starting point.

Choosing your application route

Applications are split by learner type, and the correct route is listed under How to Apply:

Each route explains its own steps, so read the one that matches your situation rather than a generic application page.

Applying and tracking your application

Once you've chosen a course, the site provides dedicated login areas so you can manage and follow your application:

• Applicant Login – for tracking an application you've submitted.
• Parent/Carer Login – for parents and carers supporting an applicant.
• Student Login – for current students.
• Staff Login and Governor Login – for internal users.

The How to Apply page is the central reference for the process itself, including specific guidance such as applying for an Enhanced DBS where a course requires one.

Support if you get stuck

If you can't find the right course or aren't sure which route applies to you, the site points to several help channels:

• Help and Advice, including Careers Advice and Student Services.
• Contact Us for direct enquiries.
• Financial Support and Learning Support and SEND if funding or additional needs affect your choice.
• Travel Support and Parking and Permits for practical logistics.
• Wellbeing Support for You and Support for Adult Students (19+) for learner-specific help.

Key things to check before you apply

• Confirm you're using the application route for your learner group — they are not interchangeable.
• Check the level guidance if you're returning to study or unsure of your starting point.
• Note any course-specific requirements, such as an Enhanced DBS, before submitting.
• Use the relevant login to track your application once it's in.

The site's own framing is that it supports its community through learning in a modern and friendly environment, and the range of search tools and support pages reflects that — but the practical takeaway is simpler: pick your learner group first, then search, then apply through the matching route.