Northern Regional College offers a diverse portfolio of Higher Education and Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes, designed to provide students with high-quality, career-focused learning that meets local and regional skills needs. Programmes are delivered in partnership with leading Higher Education institutions, including Pearson, Queen’s University Belfast (including Stranmillis), The Open University, and Ulster University.
Courses include HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees, Honours Degrees and Higher Level Apprenticeships, allowing students to study close to home while gaining industry-relevant skills, real-world experience and recognised university qualifications.
Christine Brown, Curriculum Director at Northern Regional College, said, “Choosing the right path after secondary school can be daunting, so we encourage students to consider all the options available to them, including those at their local Further Education College. University-accredited courses at [College Name] include HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees, Honours Degrees, and Higher Level Apprenticeships, allowing students to study locally, gain real-world skills, and benefit from significant cost savings.”
There are many advantages for students who choose to stay local and study at their nearest FE College. Benefits include smaller class sizes, which support a more focused and personalised learning experience, lecturers with extensive industry experience, lower tuition fees, and access to industry-standard facilities and equipment. All vocational programmes are developed in line with employer demand, ensuring students gain relevant, industry-recognised qualifications that enhance employability and progression to further study.
Hannah Currie, from Randalstown, is a Higher Level Apprentice (HLA) in Engineering graduate at Northern Regional College and an excellent example of how local FE provision can support long-term career success.
After spending almost a decade in employment, Hannah returned to education in September 2022, enrolling on the Foundation Degree in Engineering at Northern Regional College. With the support of experienced lecturers and access to specialist engineering facilities, she quickly rebuilt her confidence and excelled academically, finishing first in her year with distinctions across all modules.
Alongside her studies, Hannah balanced work at Wrightbus and responsibilities on her family’s farm. She also undertook specialist training in Industrial Robotics, representing Northern Regional College at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, where she won Gold — a success that further strengthened her career prospects.
Now working as a Manufacturing Engineer at Wrightbus, Hannah continues to build on the foundation developed at Northern Regional College while studying part-time towards a Degree Apprenticeship in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (BEng Hons), delivered in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast.
Reflecting on her experience, Hannah said, “Coming back to education after so long was daunting, but studying at Northern Regional College gave me the confidence, support and opportunities I needed to progress. Being able to study locally, learn from lecturers with real industry experience and apply what I learned directly in the workplace made a huge difference to my career.”
Our team is committed to providing clear information and expert guidance to help prospective students make informed decisions about their future. To find out more, contact your local campus to speak with our specialist staff or contact the Admissions team at admissions@nrc.ac.uk or come along to Northern Regional College’s upcoming Open Days on:
Monday 2 February – Ballymena: 4pm–8pm
Tuesday 3 February – Newtownabbey: 4pm–8pm
Wednesday 4 February – Coleraine: 4pm–8pm
Thursday 5 February – Magherafelt: 4pm–8pm
These events provide an opportunity to meet lecturers, view facilities and find out more about university-level study at Northern Regional College.
Applications for courses starting this September are now open. For full course details, entry requirements and how to apply visit www.nrc.ac.uk.