Can you go to College before the age of 16?

While some young people are eager to start their college adventure early, the general rule is that courses at the College of West Anglia are designed for students who are at least 16 at the start of the course. Homeschooled applicants who will be 16 at the start of the course should book onto the school leavers’ session during enrolment. There’s no mention of options for students younger than 16 to apply in standard programmes, so it looks like you’ll need to wait until you hit that milestone birthday before joining the college crowd.

There are opportunities for you to get a taste of college life. Each year, CWA welcomes Year 10 students to its campuses for taster days, letting you experience student life in the faculty of your choice. Just a heads up: these Year 10 Taster Days are arranged via the school you attend, not directly with CWA. So, your best move is to chat with your school’s careers lead to find out how you can take part.