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Situated on the northern fringes of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Black Mountains College (BMC) is a new and imaginative education centre with a mission to promote ecological action and adaptation. The college is located in the rural Welsh town of Talgarth and offers a carefully curated programme of short courses, further and higher education qualifications taught in an inclusive community environment.
BMC offers four qualifications, in addition to a small selection of short courses. It offers three Level 2 NVQ courses in Regenerative Horticulture, Coppicing & Greenwood Trades, and Nature Recovery in partnership with the NPTC Group of Colleges, which each take place upon their own Farm campus, as well as across the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, local woodlands and other community-based locations.
The college developed its first bachelor’s degree in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2023, the BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change, which now welcomes applicants for September 2024 entry.
The BMC campus is located at Troed-yr-Harn, an upland hill farm which will continue to be renovated and expanded as the college grows. Students will contribute to building sustainable facilities for future generations of learners to use and enjoy. Degree students will also experience lessons at Hay Castle, in the famous book town of Hay-on-Wye as well as across the Bannau Brycheiniog, making use of nature as the classroom.
BMC teaches a unique skills-based, community-oriented curriculum, with a compact portfolio of courses. The college offers three full-time NVQ level 2 courses with a duration of one year, in Regenerative Horticulture, Nature Recovery, and Coppicing and Greenwood Trades. These courses are taught through a combination of hands-on indoor and outdoor learning, supported by classroom theory sessions.
BMC offers a flagship bachelor’s degree programme, open for applications for September 2024 entry. The BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology, and Systems Change degree is a new and innovative interdisciplinary programme, which combines study of theory of change, with creative artistic practice, political economies, ecology, and socio-technical systems.
The course will be taught by BMC’s small, enthusiastic team of researchers activists and practitioners, who have a wealth of ideas and experiences to share with their new students and who are passionate about their expertise. It will open up exciting career opportunities across a range of disciplines.
Interested? Order a prospectus to find out more about the uni and the courses on offer.
GET PROSPECTUSBMC runs an open admissions policy, aimed at attracting the widest spectrum of participants and offering the best possible access to higher education for those who wish to get involved.
Applications are submitted though UCAS or directly via BMC, and admission is determined through submission of portfolios and interviews, as well as the personal statement students must provide as part of their application, with the college looking at potential rather than just academic grades.
Applications can be submitted through UCAS: Cardiff Metropolitan University/Black Mountains College or directly via the BMC website.
Black Mountains College is looking for people with the will and desire to contribute to worldwide change, and to build a more sustainable and harmonious future for generations to come. The college has committed to refining its application process in future, to ensure that the students who care about creating sustainable futures can fulfil their ambitions with study at BMC.
UCAS TARIFF CALCULATORSend a message directly to the uni to learn more about their entry requirements.
ASK A QUESTIONLife in the mid-Wales mountains is tranquil and atmospheric, and BMC students have a fantastic opportunity to immerse in the same natural environments which they are studying.
BMC guarantees first year student’s accommodation, whether directly provided or found through a third-party supplier, and their student support team can assist with choosing and securing placement.
Accommodation options range from £120 - £180 per week. BMC is a ‘car-free’ campus, which means that students will be encouraged to walk or cycle where possible. The college also organises a minibus from Talgarth to learning sites for lessons.
BMC is a growing campus, with many of the practises being taught actively employed in the creation of new sustainable spaces and facilities for current and future students to use.
The original farm site, Troed-yr-Harn, is in the process of being renovated and improved for student activities, and is currently equipped with a workshop space, a large sheep barn for indoor activities, fire pit, toilets, shower facilities and a camping field.
There are plans to construct an outdoor kitchen. There is a small on-site library and some IT facilities available. Students additionally have access to the library facilities at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
What's it like to study at this institution? Current students and alumni share their opinion...
VIEW 1 REVIEWS WRITE A REVIEWBMC appreciates the need for effective and well-funded student support services and considers this aspect of college life as a high priority. Its student services team is made up of a dedicated group of individuals who are part of the tight-knit BMC community, making great efforts to cultivate the student experience alongside students and staff members.
They are there to listen and can provide advice and guidance with all aspects of student life, whether academic, career-related or personal. The college has a dedicated student support officer to address any issues quickly, with students actively encouraged to make use of the support services available to allow them to fully focus on their academic success.
All students have free and full access to the resources and specialist services available at Cardiff Metropolitan University. These wider resources can help with issues that may require funding beyond the BMC, such as formal counselling or specialist help with accessibility needs.
Find out more about the student support offered on the university’s website.
VISIT WEBSITEBMC’s strength is in its mission to prepare students for a high-tech, zero carbon future, and in its plans to implement a programme of sustainable and ecologically creative schemes on its 120-acre campus in the Bannau Brycheiniog.
The college has been established as a response to the worldwide climate emergency, and its flagship ‘BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change’ course has been developed entirely from scratch by some of the most experienced and ecologically conscious minds in environmentalism today, guaranteeing a very high standard of education using the latest developments and trends.
Graduates become members of three alumni groups; BMC, Cardiff Met and the Open Society University Network, and will enjoy the full benefits of an ongoing relationship with each institution. This helps students to maintain a network of colleagues potentially working in similar fields, which can open up exciting career opportunities in future, along with providing useful resources for continued development.
Students at Black Mountains College also benefit from the resources and facilities at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
This includes access to all online activities offered by the students union and the option to visit in person. The SU is student led, and students can access resources and guidance, meet people and find representation.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with activities around Black Mountains College itself. The BMC encourages participation in land use planning, growing food, admissions processes and mentoring of other students.
Due to its size and structure, the BMC does not have a traditional students’ union, and therefore does not run clubs and societies.
Talgarth, Brecon and Hay have a range of sports clubs, and the college welcomes any student who wishes to develop a group around one of these activities.
The Black Mountain region is a wonderful rural area in the heart of Wales.
Talgarth is the nearest community and is where many students will stay. The quiet town has a population of around 1,800 people with plenty of outdoor activities and places to visit in the local area. The BMC campus is well connected to Hereford, Hay, Crickhowell, and Brecon by public
Graduates of the BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology, and Systems Change degree will have spent two years engaging with the questions of how to learn in a changing world and how to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges. Students develop a specialism which becomes an individual research project in their third year, culminating in a module that includes a work placement, civic project, or new initiative.
This hands-on approach includes the development of a portfolio of work and professional profile. BMC students will graduate with a respected interdisciplinary qualification, and a period of applied work experience under their belt. BMC has a variety of partners to support in work experience and volunteering placements, and potential future work opportunities.
Additionally, BMC hosts an online climate careers fair every spring, where students can connect with prospective employers in different environmental and professional sectors. BMC graduates will be approaching employment with enhanced critical skills and superb teamwork and communication abilities, making them highly desirable employees.
The college also offers a number of part-time paid positions as student ambassadors, where students can earn as they learn.
Each of BMC’s one-year further education NVQ courses are fully funded by the Welsh Government for all students regardless of individual age. Each NVQ course carries a small fee for safety and work-related clothing, priced as follows:
To read more about additional funding support for further education, students can visit the FE student finance guide.
The BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology, and Systems Change undergraduate degree course is priced in line with UK government guidelines, currently £9,250 per year.
BA applicants can find further information regarding cost of study, and additional living expenses, on the college website.
UK students can apply for a student loan to cover the costs of tuition fees through the Student Finance Wales portal. UK and Irish students living and studying in Wales may also be eligible for a grant to cover living costs, as well as additional loan schemes. These financial awards are calculated based on household income.
There is a money advice service at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Black Mountains College also has a small student hardship fund for students experiencing financial difficulty.
Send a message directly to the uni to learn more about their scholarships and bursaries.
ASK A QUESTIONThere are currently no undergraduate open days available to book at this university.
Take a look at open days at unis across the UK.
Ennig Offices,
The Square,
Talgarth,
LD3 0BW
Black Mountains College
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Many courses at Black Mountains College offer an opportunity to do a work placement or sandwich year. These opportunities will help you develop your employability skills, and the careers department is also on hand to offer personal support.
As well as a wide range of courses on offer, Black Mountains College also has loads of clubs and societies you can join during your studies. Joining societies is just one of the many ways you can tailor your experience at Black Mountains College to suit you.
With a degree in a subject you love, you'll find more doors opening to jobs you'll love. Studies have also shown that graduates earn more on average compared to non-graduates.
If you want to continue to pursue education, you'll be able to progress to postgraduate study once you've got your undergraduate degree. You could opt to study a master's, or even get a PhD.
Living in uni halls means you'll have access to communal areas including kitchen and dining facilities. These facilities offer you plenty of opportunity to socialise with the students you're living with.
You'll also find all bills are included in your rent, and yes, that includes WiFi. Rent also covers security and maintenance. There are accessible rooms available in halls that have been adapted for disabled students.
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