Guided campus tour
Get a glimpse into the facilities you will be using as a digital, computer science and IT student at West Notts College.
What our students say
Peter talks to us about his favourite part of his course, shares exciting opportunities the course has offered, including guest speakers from various sectors across the computer science industry, and highlights how the teachers are always willing to lend a hand.
Meet the teachers
Get to know to know a bit more about your teachers before you join us.
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Kit list
Find out what equipment and resources you'll need before you join as a West Notts student.
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FAQs - computing and IT courses
The following information will hopefully give you a little bit more of an insight into what it will be like to be a student with us.
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Where will I study?
Our computing courses are based at the Derby Road campus, Mansfield, and have a dedicated area with rooms for study and practical work. The college operates 13 different bus routes to and from this campus, both in the morning and the evening.
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What is it like?
College is an adult, professional environment intended to prepare you to work in your chosen industry. We expect our students to behave in the way that they would in a job with an employer. Attendance and punctuality are very important too. As our aim is to get students into industry, we work with them on their own personal presentation while on the study programme.
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What will I study?
The courses are a mix of practical IT sessions and more traditional classroom learning. While there is plenty of opportunity to practice your programming skills or fix computers, you will still be expected to understand the theory behind some of the practice, so classroom learning is also important. The higher the level of study programme that you’re on, there will be more theory combined with practical. The computing team involve their students in lots of hands-on project work, so there are plenty of opportunities to learn ‘on the job’. Some of these projects are for local employers and you will be expected to present back ideas to them.
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What about English and maths?
If you start at college and you haven’t yet achieved your English and maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above, then you will continue to study these for three hours each week per subject. At the end of your first year you will take a re-sit GCSE exam. It is important you attend your English and maths lessons alongside your chosen course.
Take a look at our fact sheets to find out why English and maths is important within this industry.
View English and maths fact sheets
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What will I have to wear?
Computing students can wear whatever they want to come to college in, as long as it’s appropriate and isn’t offensive. We have no dress codes in terms of hair colour, jewellery etc. There may be occasions when students are asked to come dressed appropriately for the workplace, which is more than likely when they are presenting to their class or working with local employers on projects. This does not necessarily mean wearing a suit, but looking smart, clean and well-presented.
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Will I have to do a work placement?
At levels 2 and 3 you will be expected to complete a work placement. Past students have enjoyed some great placements will really good employers. The central work placement team can help find you an opportunity. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and maybe even move into a job like some of our past computing students.
All of our students will be able to also get engaged with our learning companies, which provide in-house opportunities to gain real-world experience. This year students are doing a whole range of projects from refurbishing automated demonstration systems for engineering, providing IT support to the rest of the student body, and providing IT repairs for a whole range of kit.
Not answered your question? Then ask your teacher
Send your questions to your teachers using our simple online form.
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Be part of our learning company
Resolve IT is a student-led PC repair and IT support learning company that was established in October 2021 by the digital and business department.
Their goal is to provide a personal and professional repair and support service for all IT needs. Working for Resolve IT, offers opportunities for you to gain more of an insight of working in the digital repair industry, working on your technical skills and gaining knowledge and experience of working for a real company.
As part of level 2 and 3 courses, you will be expected to complete a mandatory work placement, so why don’t you apply to work with us?
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