FAQs

Cornwall is quite a distance from where I live. Do I really need to visit?

Yes. We recommend anyone thinking of applying to study at University College Falmouth to come and visit us – not just to see the studios and facilities, but also to experience the town and surrounding area. You may live and work here for several years, so it’s important that you make the right choice – this can only be done by visiting a place.

Will I be able to see the accommodation/halls of residence?

No. All of the rooms at our halls of residence are usually allocated. However, you will be able to collect information about accommodation in Falmouth.

I can’t attend the open day; when else can I visit?

During term-time, we organise regular campus tours each week, which are led by students. Please contact the Education Liaison Office to enquire about attending a campus tour.

Will I be able to see both campuses?

Yes. For both open days and campus tours, we offer bus transportation between campuses, but please allow extra time for your visit.

Can I find out about more than one course at an open day?

Yes. On each open day, there are multiple presentations for our popular courses, enabling you to attend more than one presentation.

Is there disabled access to the campuses?

Yes. Disabled access is complicated at Woodlane, because the campus has a steep hill at its centre, but there is level access or lifts into most of the facilities. The Tremough Campus is level and many of the buildings there are new, with disabled access. Please let us know when booking if you will require extra assistance with your visit.

What about accommodation in Falmouth if I have to stay the night?

A list of B&Bs and hotels is included in the information sent to you when you book a place on an open day. This can also be sent to visitors attending campus tours.

What’s the best way to travel to Cornwall?

By car or by train, depending on what you want to see. If you are planning on seeing a lot of Cornwall whilst visiting, then drive. If you just want to see Falmouth and the campuses, then come by train (Falmouth is relatively easy to walk around, the station is close, and we provide transportation between campuses).

The train is more relaxing, but will probably take longer than driving, depending on how often you have to change. For example, from London Paddington the journey is about five hours, including just one change at Truro. With London traffic, this may be quicker than driving.

An increasing number of visitors fly to Cornwall – Ryanair has daily flights from London Stansted to Newquay Airport, and Air South West currently flies from London Gatwick to Newquay. Buses or trains connect Newquay to Falmouth but this can be a difficult or time-consuming journey. An easier and more popular option is to hire a car at the airport.

National Express coaches also stop in Falmouth – this is probably the cheapest way to travel to Cornwall, but will probably involve the longest journey time.

…And how long will it take?

Some typical journey times are:

• London to Falmouth: 5½hrs by car or 5hrs by train
• Exeter to Falmouth: 2hrs by car or 2½hrs by train
• Birmingham to Falmouth: 4½hrs by car, 5½hrs by train
• Southampton to Falmouth: 4½ hrs by car, 6hrs by train
• Manchester to Falmouth: 6½hrs by car, 6½ hrs by train

Flying from London to Newquay takes approximately 50 minutes, but then getting from Newquay to Falmouth may take over an hour by train or bus, or about 40 minutes if you hire a car at the airport.

Is it true that traffic is bad in the West Country?

Yes and no. Devon and Cornwall are popular weekend and holiday destinations, so main roads can be busy on Friday nights, Bank Holiday weekends, and in the peak summer months. Out of season, the main roads are less busy.

Congestion tends to occur along the single-carriageway stretches of the A303 (when travelling from the South-East), on the M5/M4 interchange around Bristol (travelling from London, the Midlands or South Wales), and occasionally on the A30 in Cornwall between Bodmin and Truro.

How close is the University College to the town centre, the station and the beaches?

The Woodlane Campus is less than 10 minutes’ walk from all three, and is very close to the centre of Falmouth.

The Tremough Campus is just outside Penryn, approximately three miles from Falmouth’s town centre – we provide bus transportation to the campus for all open day or campus tour visitors.

What about parking?

For open days, we usually offer a park & ride service for all visitors, to deliver people to the relevant campus and to reduce traffic congestion in Falmouth and Penryn. You will be sent further information about open day arrangements after you have booked places. For individual visitors to campus tours, there are several options.

If you are visiting the Woodlane Campus, you are advised to park in The Dell pay and display car park next to the train station at the bottom of the campus hill.

If you are staying in hotel/B&B accommodation in Falmouth, it may be close enough for you to leave the car there and walk to campus. Much of the visitor accommodation is only 10–15 minutes walk from campus.

If you are visiting Tremough, there is usually parking available for visitors to campus tours. Details will be sent to you on booking on a campus tour.

For general visitors to Falmouth, there are several public pay and display car parks in the town centre. In the summer months, a park & ride and park & float scheme is also in operation, and we recommend that visitors utilise this service if possible. All of these options are busier in the summer at the height of the tourist season.

Who should I contact to discuss my visit to University College Falmouth?

We will be happy to help you with any aspect of your visit to Falmouth, or any other information that you may require:

Lesley Graham, UK Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator Open Days

University College Falmouth
Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4RH
Tel: 01326 213721Fax: 01326 213880
Email: opendays@falmouth.ac.uk

To discuss applying to University College Falmouth or to request further information about a specific course, please contact the Admissions office:

Admissions
University College Falmouth
Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4RH
Tel: 01326 213730
Fax: 01326 213880
Email: admissions@falmouth.ac.uk