A Guide to the Application Process

For 16-19 year old students

Varndean College, BHASVIC and Brighton MET together form the Accord Colleges in Brighton and Hove. The three colleges have a coordinated application process for students seeking to study at any of the Accord Colleges.

Under the Accord, you will not be able to make an application to both Varndean College and BHASVIC. This is so that these two sixth form colleges can effectively plan curriculum provision to cater for as many students wishing to study in one of these colleges as possible.

You are welcome to make an application to one of these two Sixth Form Colleges and also to Brighton MET, however. You are also entirely free to apply to any other educational institution - it is only in the case of Varndean College and BHASVIC that you are not able to apply to both colleges. An Accord College is likely to ask you, at interview, about any other applications you have made or offers you hold from other educational institution, employer or training provider.

As part of the application process for either Sixth Form College, you will be asked to confirm that you have not made a separate application to the other Sixth Form College.

Varndean and BHASVIC work very closely together and will share data to check and avoid applicants having applied to both Sixth Form Colleges. If you have made an application to both Sixth Form Colleges, you may no longer be treated as a priority applicant. One of the colleges will contact you to ask which application you wish to withdraw and an interview will not be possible at either college until this has been established.

To enquire about a late place to join the College in September 2023 or any other queries regarding the admissions process, please email information@varndean.ac.uk.

Application Timeline

• Late September 2023

  Apply using our online application system.

• Friday 1 December 2023

  Apply by the priority deadline.

• As soon as you send

  Make sure you have received an email confirmation at the time you submitted your application form.

• Early January

  You will be sent an email inviting you in for an admissions interview.

• January - February

  Attend your Interview. If you have submitted an application to attend Varndean College, you will be invited to attend an interview in late January. This will be with a senior member of staff in person at Varndean College. At this interview, provided we can offer you an appropriate course and that you are supported by your school, you will be offered a place based upon the entry criteria set out in our Admissions Policy.

• Within 10 days

  If you wish to accept the place offered to you, you must reply to the email offer within 10 days.

• Late June

  You will be invited to attend our New Students' Day. This is when you will meet Subject Tutors and find out more about coming to college in September.

• Late August

  Following your GCSE results in August, you will then be invited to attend a Final Enrolment Interview in late August. This is when you will have a chance to discuss your course with a senior member of staff in light of these results. Do not worry if you haven't met the requirements for a specific course, we will discuss this with you further and help you find an alternative course that suits you.