Library Libraries are available in Antrim, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Farm Lodge, Magherafelt, Newtownabbey and Trostan Avenue. You will find a wide range of resources in the library, many of which will relate to your course, but some are for general interest, including fiction and newspapers. Journals We subscribe to more than 70 titles. Current copies of each journal are displayed on the display shelves in each library. Older copies are held in the archives for 3 years. Computers Each library provides a suite of PCs for student use. Each PC runs Windows software, Microsoft Office and is networked and connected to the Internet. You will be able to access your work everywhere in college. Email access for students is free and there is a scanner available for student use in each library. Financial & Welfare Matters The Northern Regional College has a range of support funds, which can help with some of the financial problems that may prevent you from studying. The College recognises that for some students the cost of travel or childcare, for example, may stop you from joining or continuing on a course or programme. The Student Finance Team can give you advice on financial matters and help you to apply for any appropriate grants or awards that are available. This team also manages the Education Maintenance Allowance ( EMA) scheme for the College. Educational Maintenance Allowance - EMA EMA is a payment of up to £ 30 per week paid fortnightly to full time students aged 16- 19 years old. In addition EMA students may receive a bonus payment of £ 100, up to 3 times a year, if the college attendance and performance objectives are met. Care to Learn If you are a parent between 16 to 20 years of age and studying a full or part time vocational course, you may be eligible for childcare assistance under this scheme. The child carer must be a childminder, pre- school playgroup, day nursery, out of hours school club or other registered provider. Costs are subject to a weekly maximum amount for each child. Support Funds Support funds are available to provide financial help for students aged 18 and over. All students seeking financial support must in the first instance apply for FE funding to the Western Education and Library Board ( WELB) www. welbni. org ( LINK) Phone: 028 8225 4546 Students may apply for help with fees and/ or living costs; the fund is discretionary and terms and conditions apply. Higher Education Courses Full time Higher Students may apply for a tuition fee loan. The loan is not means tested and is repayable. For further information you can apply online or contact the Education and Library Board in your local area. Online applications and contact details can be found at www. studentfinanceni. co. uk EU national students If you are an EU national student or the child of an EU national, your application for financial support will be dealt with by the Students Loan Company. Contact www. direct. gov. uk/ studentfinance- EU for further information and how to apply. For further information please email studentfinance@ nrc. ac. uk Education Support To make an appointment with the Learning Support Unit or you can visit the Student Services in your campus or contact us directly. Education Support Unit Team Contact Details: Sheelagh Canty ( Ballymena/ Larne) sheelagh. canty@ nrc. ac. uk Leanne Stewart- Murray ( Coleraine/ Ballymoney/ Magherafelt) leanne. stewart- murray@ nrc. ac. uk Brendan Muldoon ( Newtownabbey/ Antrim) brendan. muldoon@ nrc. ac. uk Careers Guidance The Careers Centre helps students of the Northern Regional College to decide, plan & compete in the global job market. From deciding what to do to fine- tuning applications and everything in between, the right Career for you starts with us. The Careers Centre can help NRC students with all aspects of Career planning & support to help you get the most from your experience at the College. For first year students: Starting to consider your career choices in your first year is made easier with the wide range of service we have to offer: Part time work advice or other work experience opportunities will enable you to develop work related skills and start to build up the kind of experiences that will improve your CV. We can help with application forms, CVs and interview prep for part time jobs and other work experience opportunities - call in between 9- 4 Mon- Fri. You are welcome to attend our careers fairs, employer led presentations and university workshops to start to get an understanding of what employers and universities want and what they have to offer. If you want to start discussing your career, even if you have no idea what you want to do when you leave College, call in between 9- 4 and we'll be able to help. We have well stocked information rooms open with plenty of careers material for you read or to take away. Attend career activities that take place within your classes Make use of our computerised software packages, offering careers advice and guidance via the internet. Our careers modules and tutorials help develop your career planning and employability skills We're friendly, helpful and professional. We can help you from day one of year one and throughout your time at the College - whether you have yet to start thinking about your options or even if you have well thought out plans - call in to see how we can help. Choosing a Career - Where to Start Decisions are often hard to make and there may be a number of possible and often conflicting options. Career Decisions are particularly important, as an early choice of Career can set you in a direction that is not always easy to change. Decisions made and actions taken are forever visible on your CV and recruiters will analyse your suitability to their organisation based on the directions you have taken in life, alongside the skills and abilities you have acquired along the way. So never underestimate how much time you need to devote to planning your career and make sure that you prioritise it accordingly. To help you consider this point, think about how much time you usually put into planning a holiday, versus how much thought you have devoted to your career planning so far? For further details contact careers@ nrc. ac. uk

http:// www. nrc. ac. uk Essential Skills in English, Maths and ICT Who are they for? Anyone, aged 16 and over, who wants to improve his or her English, Maths and ICT skills. Contact Ballymena Jacqui Livingstone jacqui. livingstone@ nrc. ac. uk Ballymoney Kathleen Mullan kathleen. mullan@ nrc. ac. uk Newtownabbey Norma Sleater norma. sleater@ nrc. ac. uk How will Essential Skills qualifications benefit me? By improving your English and Maths skills Essential Skills could: . Help you to complete the course you are studying. . Help you to get better results on your course. . Help you to improve your confidence. . Help you to get a job. . Help you move on to higher level courses. . Get the most out of life . Develop personally . Engage with others easily Essential Skills FACULTY 4