1. How to apply

• Read our career pathways pages to research more about the programmes and potential future careers they could lead to. 
• Join in with our College Open Events. 
• Find out about financial support to help you cover the costs associated with studying at college. 

Find out about learning and/or health and wellbeing support for students here.

• To make an application, find a course and apply for it online. You will need to register for an account if you haven't already, as we are using a new applications system.
• If you need help with you application, you can contact Admissions via 0800 612 6008, or visit us in person at your nearest Advice Centre.
• On your application form, please let us know about any specific support needs you may have. Our support teams may contact you if we need more information.
• We will then send you an email to confirm that we have received your application.
• If you are a current student, you will follow a different application process. For applicants who are not already studying with us, you do not need to reapply.

We have two different application pathways at Activate Learning, depending on when you submit your application: the Early Applications Pathway and the Late Applications Pathway.

From October 1st, 2026, to March 31st, 2027, all applications will go through our Early Applications Pathway. If you apply during this time, you’ll be invited to attend a Meet the Teaching Team event as part of the application process. Attending this event is important because: 

• It helps you learn more about your chosen course.
• It allows us to make sure the course is the right fit for you. 

After you attend and we confirm the course suits you, you will get a conditional offer by email. Applicants in this pathway will get priority when enrolling in the summer. 

Applications received from April 1st, 2027 onwards go through the Late Applications Pathway. There will be no Meet the Teaching Team events during this time. You will still receive a conditional offer once your application is processed.

However, applicants from the Early Applications Pathway will have priority at the time of enrolment. 

When we receive your application, our Advice and Admissions team will review it and may ask you for more information. We will not be able to give you a conditional offer until we have all the information we need. Some examples of information we might ask for include: 

• If necessary, you will receive a call from our support team to ensure we can provide the support you need at college.
• If you have applied for 3 or more courses, we will call you within the next 7 working days. We will call you from 0800 612 6008, so please save this number to your mobile phone.
• If you have been sent an assessment (GCSE Maths and English, Access to HE, or counselling), your application will not be processed further until this has been completed.