Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

How to apply for a college course

Applying for a college course is easy, with just a few steps to follow. This page covers applications for college courses such as Level 1-3 Diplomas, Certificates and Awards. It also covers the process for apprenticeships at further education level.

Before you apply

Our Open Days are a great opportunity to find out more about studying in Writtle.

You’ll be able to see the campus, meet teaching staff and find out a bit more about our courses.

Our support staff will also be there to answer your questions about finance, transport, student services and more.

When to apply

All college courses at Writtle start in September. You can apply for most courses at any time leading up to the course start date. However, we encourage you to apply earlier if possible. This gives you time to get prepared, buy any necessary materials and equipment, and potentially apply for funding.

Occasionally, a course may have a specific application deadline. If this is the case we'll include details on the course page.

How to apply

Applying for a course is straightforward, with just a few steps to complete.

  1. Decide which course you want to apply for (attending an Open Day can be helpful here).
  2. Follow the application link on the course page.
  3. Complete our online application form.
  4. Our Admissions Team will review your application and be in touch.

If you’re applying for an apprenticeship and have an employer who is supporting you, you can follow the steps above. You can do this if you already work for the employer, or if you have secured paid employment but not yet started the job.

If you’re interested in becoming an apprentice but don’t yet have an employer, your first step is to apply for roles in your chosen industry (don’t forget to check our list of current apprenticeship vacancies). Once you’ve secured a role and your employer has agreed to support your studies, you can apply following the steps above.

Additional information we ask for

As part of the admissions process we ask you to provide a reference, using our Reference Request Form.

The reference does not have to be completed at the same time as you apply for a course. However, we do review it as part of our admissions process, so it’s helpful if it’s completed as soon as possible.

If you’re a current student, your school or college can complete the Reference Request Form. It’s important that predicted grades are included as this will allow us to make a full assessment of your application.

If you’re not a student, please provide a reference from your current or most recent work experience employer, volunteering supervisor or trainer. Please note that we cannot accept references from family members or friends.

After you apply

When you submit your application, you’ll receive an acknowledgement email from our Admissions Team. We’ll then review your application, and see if we’re able to offer you a place.

Our team will contact you again with additional information. This may include:

  • an offer letter
  • for some courses, an invitation to attend an interview.

If you attend an interview, we’ll contact you shortly afterwards by email to let you know the outcome.

Top tips

  • Make sure you include a valid email address and telephone number when you apply, so you don’t miss any communications from us.
  • If you’re expecting to hear from us and haven’t, check your spam/junk folder. Sometimes emails can get caught up there.
  • Get in touch if you have any questions; we’re always happy to help. See below for contact details.

Contact us

If you've applied to ARU and have any questions about your application or your course, we're here to help.

For college courses contact our Admissions Customer Service Team (Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm):

For apprenticeships contact [email protected] or call 01245 686707.