College interviews are the chance for you to tell us why you’d be a great asset to the course. You can use it as an opportunity to find out more about the course, get a good feel for the college, and ask us any questions you may have.

Likewise, for us, it’s a great way to find out more about you, get an idea of what you want to do in the future, and to make sure the course is right for you.

Our interviews aren’t designed to catch you out - but they are important. This is your opportunity to shine and tell us how great you are. So being under prepared may mean that you run out of things to say and not give the best account of yourself.

So to help you avoid this, here are our top tips for helping you get interview ready.

Be prepared

Whether your interview is online, over the phone, or on campus, it is important that you're ready. Make sure you spend some time before your interview to get all of your important documents together. We will let you know what you need when we send out our interview invitations - but it will include things like your ID and your predicted grades.

Be on time

In fact, go one better and be early. Whether you're meeting your new tutor at campus or you’re expecting them to call, be ready a few minutes before your appointment. This will give you time to set yourself, calm any nerves, and go over what you'd like to say. If you're late or miss their call, it won't make a very good first impression. It'll cut down the time you have to talk, and you'll probably be a bit flustered during the interview.

Be polite

We think it is really important to make a good first impression. If you've done the first two tips - you're almost there. Being polite, smiling, saying hello, and, if you’re in person, making eye contact is a great way to get your interview off to a good start. All of these things show your tutor that you're serious about joining the course.

If you are able to make it onto campus or a video call, carefully consider how you present yourself too. Looking tidy and well groomed is a really good way to make it obvious that you care about your future and you’re willing to put in every effort to succeed - especially at this initial stage.

Be confident

You might be feeling a little nervous when the interview starts, and that's perfectly normal. Your nerves will soon disappear once the interview gets going, so try to have a positive and confident mindset from the beginning. Your tutor will ask the questions - and you already know all the answers because it's all about you! Be confident and tell us about yourself. We're not trying to catch you out; we're genuinely interested in you.

Don't be afraid to tell us why you love the subject you've chosen, where you're hoping it will take you in the future, and why you're looking forward to studying with us.

Be interested

Be engaged and interested throughout the interview. Make it a two-way conversation, rather than a question and one-word answer session. Elaborating on your answers is a great way to impress your new tutor.

Your interview is also a great opportunity for you to ask us questions. Perhaps you'd like to know more about the trips you'll go on or whether you'll be required to wear a uniform. If you don't have any questions, make an effort to ask one. Do a little bit of research about the course and ask a question about one of the modules. Perhaps ask about our former students, or even ask our tutors about their background and interests.

A nice way to end

Once your interview has finished, smile, thank your tutor for their time, tell them that it was really great to meet them, and you are really looking forward to joining the course in September.

Follow our tips, and you'll be absolutely fine! But if you would like a little more help or advice before your interview then feel free to contact our admissions team who will be happy to help: