Christmas Closure Information

Our campuses close on Friday 20th December and re-open on Thursday 2nd January 2025 for the Christmas Break.

Students will return to timetabled lessons on Monday 6th January 2025.

For information on term dates and enquiries please visit our information page using the button below.

Bursary

Bursary

All students aged 16-18 on the first day of their course will have their course fully-funded by the government.

Costs of studying

If you are/will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August in the calendar year when you begin a programme of study, you DO NOT pay tuition fees, College registration fees or examination/board registration fees. However, there are some courses which have additional costs which could include:

  • Equipment costs – such as uniforms, kits, books and so on
  • Trips and enrichment activities
  • DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)
  • Occupational Health Screening

You will be informed of any additional costs associated with your chosen programme as early as possible to allow time for payment to be made.

Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college.  Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, books and equipment and much more.

The bursary fund cannot provide help with costs unrelated to your course, such as general living expenses, nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.

Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £30,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping:
Students who are aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August 2025
Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday
Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2025 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

When can I apply?

******Applications for student funding for learners who started in September 2024 are still open. Applications can be made from this page using the button below.

Applications for student funding for learners starting in September 2025 will not open until the end of June 2025*****

For courses starting in September 2024, applications should be made by 1st November 2024. If you find yourself in financial hardship after this date it is important that you still contact Student Services. Applications received after 1st November will be considered on a pro-rata basis subject to need and the availability of funds.

You are advised to read the notes and policies at the beginning of the form and ensure that you provide all the evidence that is required when submitting your application.

Full details of the bursary funds, including making an application, can be found here:

Dress Code

Dress Code

We want you to be comfortable and feel able to express yourself as you wish. However, we do expect all learners to be mindful that the College is a professional environment, and therefore, we request that the following dress code is followed.

By following our dress code, you are not only helping keep yourself safe; we are also preparing you for your chosen career.

Professional:
• Lanyards and ID badges must be worn visibly around the neck at all times.
• Clothes must be clean and in a good state of repair. Excessively ripped jeans are not acceptable.
• Industry standard dress code must be followed in area where it is essential to do so, including all PPE.
• Departmental uniform must be worn if it is a requirement for your course.

Inappropriate Dress:
• Nobody should be able to see up, down, or through your clothes.
• Short shorts and short skirts/dresses must not be worn.
• No crop tops or strapless tops.
• Clothing that causes offence to others, advocates illegal acts or hate crimes, explicit or sexual slogans must not be worn.
• Coats are not to be worn in any indoor learning environment.
• Caps, hoods, or anything that obscures your face must not be worn inside the College buildings.
• No flip flops or sliders.

Microsoft Authenticator App

Microsoft Authenticator App

Once you have enrolled with us, you will be given a College email address which will allow you to log in to the College computers and access various Microsoft apps. You will also have a Google account with this email address. These accounts require multi-factor authentication to access various apps. The Microsoft Authenticator App is the fastest and simplest way to authorise access to your College account, and can be downloaded on both Android and iPhone devices.

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CI Connect

CI Connect

Wi-fi Eduroam App

Wi-fi Eduroam App






Eduroam (education roaming) is a secure, international wireless (Wi-Fi) service available to all staff and students at the Colchester Institute.

eduroam allows you to:

  • Use your University username and password to gain free wireless Internet access whilst at the Colchester Campus.
  • Get free internet access with your University username and password at over 5,800 participating institutions in 60 countries.
  • Once your device is configured, seamlessly connect at participating institutions without having to re-enter your username and password.
  •  Visitors from other (eduroam participating) institutions to gain free Internet access at University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute, using their own institutions credentials.

Devices may require some manual configuration in order to use the eduroam service for the first time

Important information before you start…

All Eduroam usernames start with your College username and finish with @Colchester.ac.uk

When setting up Eduroam, you must enter the username in the format ITAccount@colchester.ac.uk, where “ITAccount” is your College Username.

For example, if your College username is KSmith9845, your eduroam username is KSmith9845@Colchester.ac.uk for students and Kevin.Smith@colchester.ac.uk for Staff




Further Information


Policies and Guidelines
To use eduroam at University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute, you need to read and agree to the JANET and eduroam acceptable use policy.

By configuring your devices and signing in to eduroam, you signify your agreement to all of the below policies.



Connecting to Eduroam

Most Windows, Mac, IOS and Linux devices can be easily set up for Eduroam through the configuration tool and for mobile devices there is an APP to assist in the connection to the Eduroam wireless network.

geteduroam APP: This utility can be found on the Google and Apple app stores.

Configuration tool:

Visit the eduroam Configuration Assistant Tool (CAT) and click the large blue button that says “eduroam user: download your eduroam installer”, then select your home institution.

Google Eduroam QR Code

Google Eduroam QR Code

Apple eduroam QR code

Apple eduroam QR code


eduroam eligbility

eduroam is a free global internet access service for the Higher Education and Research community.

If you are a member of staff or student studying at University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute then you are eligible to use the eduroam service.

Whether you’re moving across campus or spending time studying or working at another research and education institution, eduroam gives you seamless internet connectivity.


 

Cashless Campus

Cashless Campus

We have operated an entirely cashless environment since September 2020, and no cash payments (notes or coins) can be made for food, drink or other services.

Our cafés and refectories all accept contactless payment methods, and to assist with this, we use an optional cashless catering system called Upay. With this system, students upload credit to a Upay account, and then use their College ID card to buy food and drink, and other services such as topping up printer credit. This is supported by an app which shows balance, top up and review expenditure.

ID Cards

ID Cards

ID cards and lanyards will be provided to students during the first weeks of term. All students are required to always wear their lanyards on campus, unless in workshops where they may cause a safety risk.

ID cards are required for access to the College gates (car parks and pedestrian gates), specific areas of the College (South Wing 4th floor, for example), and for the use of printers. Purchases can be made with ID cards in the refectories using the Upay system.

Students may be refused access if they do not have a valid College ID, and a replacement must be sought immediately. Any students without a valid ID card will need to visit the Registry team who will re-issue a new card. ID cards from previous academic years will not be valid and a new one for the current year will be required.

On the reverse of the ID cards there is information about reporting an absence and contact details for the Welfare and Safeguarding team.