Choosing Your Course

There are a number of questions you need to think about when choosing your qualification courses. If you decide to apply to Varndean College you will be helped in making these choices throughout the application process. Everyone studies the equivalent of four courses.

Will the GCSEs I am taking allow me to take the courses that I have chosen?

To take certain courses at college, you must have taken particular subjects at GCSE level. For example: you will need to have studied Maths at higher tier to study any of the advanced level science courses. You will need to have studied some subjects at GCSE to take them at advanced level (languages or sciences for example). The prospectus gives you the details.

What GCSE grades am I likely to require?

You can take an intermediate course which requires 2 grade Ds and 3 grade Es at GCSE, or an advanced course which requires at least 4 C grades at GCSE. Some advanced level course combinations require more GCSE grades at grade C and above. Please look carefully at our entry requirements. Then there are courses that require higher grades in relevant subjects; the prospectus entries show this. We also offer foundation courses at the Crew Club in Brighton; these are suitable for students whose achievements at GCSE were limited to grades D-G.

What career would I like to pursue?

Some careers have very specific requirements, for example teaching or medicine, while others have more general requirements. In the subject entries we have given some ideas of the sorts of careers linked with them, but do also seek help from your school Careers Department or online. The UCAS website is a good place to look for university entrance requirements as these vary. Insert link

What do I like?

It is important that you study subjects that you enjoy. There are lots of subjects in the prospectus you haven’t had a chance to learn about at school, so do look at these.  As well as reading about them, it’s a good idea to come and talk to staff and students about these on the College Open Evenings on 21st and 22nd November.. 

What am I good at?

It helps if you are good at a subject, but being interested and committed is just as important!

How broad a programme am I looking for?

At advanced level, an AS/A2 programme normally involves studying 4 subjects, whereas the International Baccalaureate Diploma involves 6 subjects plus a ‘core’. You can also mix AS courses with vocational courses equivalent to 1 or 2 AS levels.  Each route also includes tutorial and enrichment activities.

Do I prefer coursework or exams? 

In the subject entries we have shown the amount of coursework and exams for each subject.  Some subjects are a combination of the two but there are others where you can either opt for a coursework or exam based option.

Do I want a course that will lead straight into work?

Some of the courses offered at Varndean College could lead straight into particular types of work – see the course listing section for further information about the different types of courses.