Welbeck College
The Welbeck curriculum?
Who can apply for a place at Welbeck?
How do you apply?
How much does the College cost?
Physical Fitness
Which Regiment or Corps can you choose?
What should you do next?
Welbeck College?
Welbeck - The Defence Sixth Form College (DSFC) is the Services’ residential technical sixth form college for officer applicants who wish to join the technical branches of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force or MOD Civil Service. The College resides in a new facility at Woodhouse near Loughborough, Leicestershire.
For Army students we offer a two-year residential A-Level course leading to a science-based degree, before undertaking officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. You are not ‘in’ the Army at Welbeck and you will receive no military training other than the time you spend with our Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
What’s different about the Welbeck curriculum?
At Welbeck we provide the environment, education and experience to help you make the most of what the Army and life have to offer. The Welbeck programme is based on three areas of development:
· Academic
· Personal
· Physical
We will help you to achieve the necessary A Level grades to study for a technical degree at one of a number of MOD approved civilian universities.
Participation in the CCF is compulsory and is an important part of your preparation to be an Army Officer. The CCF will introduce you to some basic military skills such as map-reading, first-aid and weapon handling. It will also develop your leadership qualities and your ability to work with others and to take responsibility.
Sport and fitness are an important part of the College curriculum and we have a well deserved reputation for sporting excellence. We will encourage you to pursue a wide range of team and individual sports. You will also have the opportunity to try adventurous activities and sports such as canoeing, rock climbing, sailing, fencing and windsurfing, which are not available in many schools and colleges.
Life at Welbeck is demanding and challenging and initially you may find the pace very fast. However, in the College’s supportive environment, you will soon find yourself reaching new standards and enjoying an action packed programme. You can also take up new hobbies ranging from drama and learning to play a musical instrument to voluntary work with schools in the local community or even engineering work with a local preserved steam railway, thus broadening your horizons even further.
During the holiday periods you are encouraged to go on Army familiarisation visits and you will also have opportunities to go on overseas expeditions and trips, at subsidised rates.
Who can apply for a place at Welbeck?
For Army applicants Welbeck College is open to British, Commonwealth and Irish subjects aged between 15.0 and 17.6 on 1st September in the year of entry to the College. There is one intake of up to 100 students a year, in September. You must have, or expect to achieve, at least 40 points for your best 7 subjects, on a tariff of 8 points for an A*, 7 for an A, 6 for a B and 5 for a C, etc at GCSE (for Scottish Standards a score of 38 is required). This should include at least one A grade and one B grade pass or better in mathematics (higher level syllabus) and dual award science/single science equivalent, as well as a C grade pass or better in English language. Additionally candidates are expected to sit maths, physics and two other subjects for the first year of their sixth form. On the personal qualities side, you should have a good breadth of interest, be articulate, confident and physically fit and show leadership potential. You must of course also be medically fit.
How do you apply?
There are two selection boards, in the spring and summer. You will normally see an Army Careers Adviser first for a short interview when you will receive the application form. (Note, do not confuse the Application Form (RG/FOR/745) with the Army Interest Form (RG/FOR/711) and Welbeck College Proforma which are issued when you first enquire.) Application forms must be submitted as early as possible, and not later than:
· 15 November for the spring selection board
· 15 April for the summer selection board
The selection process is in 2 stages: a comprehensive interview with an Army Careers Adviser and, for those short-listed, a 2 day assessment at the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) at Westbury in Wiltshire, which will assess your leadership potential and suitability for Welbeck College and a career as an Army Officer.
How much does the College cost?
Welbeck is funded by the MoD and we pay your tuition fees. We ask your parents to contribute to your maintenance, according to their disposable income. This sum ranges from a zero contribution to around £7398 per year (although parents would need to be earning well in excess of £100,000 to be liable for the higher sum).
Physical Fitness
On entry to the college, students will be required to demonstrate a minimum acceptable fitness standard which includes 3 components: a 1.5 mile run, basic Sit-ups (with feet supported) and basic Press-ups. Full details can be found at: http://www.dsfc.ac.uk/Apply/fitness.asp
What happens after Welbeck?
So long as you satisfactorily complete the course at Welbeck you will eventually gain a place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. However most students normally first go on to a degree course at one of six universities; Aston, Birmingham, Loughborough, Newcastle, Northumbria or Southampton, on a generous technical bursary of £4000 a year, supplemented by training pay of approximately £1500 a year. Those with top A Level results and leadership potential could gain a place at Oxford or Cambridge on similar terms. Ultimately, all Welbexians attend the Commissioning Course at Sandhurst. Once you have completed this, you will receive a Short Service Commission which commits you to a minimum of 3 years as an Officer but is extendable to 8 years, with options to a full career.
Which Regiment or Corps can you choose?
Most Welbexians are commissioned into the following technical Corps:
· Royal Engineers
· Royal Corps of Signals
· Royal Logistic Corps
· Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
In addition there are a limited number of places in:
· The Royal Artillery
· The Infantry
· The Adjutant Generals Corps (Staff and Personnel Services)
· The Intelligence Corps
· The Army Air Corps
What should you do next?
Once your entitlement to apply has been confirmed, ask your parents to arrange a visit to Welbeck to make sure it is right for you by phoning 01509 891704 or by logging on to the website www.dsfc.ac.uk or by emailing linda.tilley@dsfc.ac.uk.
RG/FAC/234 – April 2011