Frequently Asked Questions

We offer a single higher education degree in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University titled ‘BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change, as well as various vocational courses (NVQ level 2 and 3), short courses and activities. See our ‘Study’ page for details on choosing your pathway.

Our NVQ Level 3 in Agroecology is currently accepting applications until 16th December 2024, ready for a January 2025 start. 

Applications for our NVQ Level 2 courses starting in September 2025 will open in March 2025. Sign up to our newsletter here or follow us on Facebook or Instagram to be alerted when they open!

To apply, you will need to fill out an application form and complete a short interview with us so we can get to know you before you are offered a place. 

For more information on our courses, visit our ‘Study’ page and choose your subject. 

Our Degree applications are open for a September 2025 start – you can apply directly through us to ensure you don’t use up one of your UCAS choices, or you can apply via UCAS!

If you would like to speak to one of our team, please contact Student Support who would be happy to help.

Both our NVQs and the BMC Degree are taught across three days a week, with two days free for guided learning, self-directed research and study, or a part-time job. 

At BMC, there are no exams! We know exams and tests can be stressful, so we do things differently to traditional exams by focusing on real-world assessments. Our no-exam environment allows students to demonstrate their practical skills and knowledge in real-time, fostering deeper understanding and confidence in their abilities. 

You will have to complete assessments which differ depending on your chosen subject, but could include: 

• – a portfolio of evidence built up throughout the year which is monitored
• – observations of your practical work
• – brief oral tests (you may not even realise you are being tested as our NVQ tutors will integrate questions into everyday lessons!)
• – some of your worksheets may be used for assessment purposes, but you won’t be tested in exam conditions 
• – written and creative assignments are required to be completed at degree level

We will support you individually to pass each module and provide detailed feedback so you can improve in future. If you do not ‘pass’ the first time, you can just try again! 

Through continuous observation and oral assessments, students gain qualifications in a supportive, hands-on learning atmosphere that prioritises competency and practical application over written exams. This approach helps ensure our students are prepared for real-life challenges in their chosen fields.

You will need to ensure that you can get to and from college each day for your lessons. Public transport in our areas can be limited, so be sure to plan ahead. Having access to a car may be beneficial in Talgarth, especially as you can park in town for free and hop on our minibus to reach the Farm for your lessons.

You will also need to make sure that you can cover your costs of living for the duration of your course, and consider costs for accommodation, bills and food as normal. 

We recommend that prospective students research housing options and the costs of food and other necessities in the area before committing to a course and living arrangements​. If you require BMC accommodation, please review our options and the prices to ensure this is affordable to you.  

The only other thing you will need is any course-related equipment. We advise all students to make sure you have warm, waterproof clothing and shoes, suitable for working outdoors in all weather. Coppicing students will need chainsaw safety clothing, boots and helmets, which your tutor can provide advice on during induction. 

You will need some basic IT skills for any course you study with us, to be able to access your student email and our virtual learning environments once you begin. We will use your student email to communicate throughout the year, and Moodle holds lots of resources available to support your studies.

Further Education students will access their Learner Hub portal via Moodle, which is used to record your own absences and apply for student finance support too. You will be shown how to do this during induction, but a basic knowledge of using a laptop and email is beneficial. You can borrow a BMC laptop if you don’t have your own for induction. 

Don’t worry! We have some funding available to support essential equipment purchase if you are struggling. See our student finance section. 

Student Support provides an Accessibility Service which includes learning support and disabled students allowance (DSA). Additional Learner Needs (ALN) are identified at the point of the interview during the application stage, and prior to enrolment adjustments are discussed.

Get in touch and we will do our best to meet your needs.

The levels of learning at BMC are designed to teach you about yourself, and how to learn. NVQ students can proceed to the degree. The degree prepares you for further specialising at the graduate level or you can apply the transferable skills to a whole range of different careers.

Please visit our Careers and Progression page for more information. 

There are a variety of funding options for both Higher and Further Education students, which range from Educational Maintenance Allowance for 16-18-year-olds, to student loans and maintenance grants available through Student Finance. BMC also has a small fund available for essential equipment purchases for those who are struggling. 

Read more about your options here

Our main campus is in Talgarth, Mid-Wales. It’s in the heart of the Black Mountains in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Students enrolled on the BMC degree will be taught in locations in the National Park. 

Talgarth is situated at the crossroads of two main roads in Mid Wales: the A40 and the A479. There are daily bus services to Brecon, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Abergavenny and Builth Wells. You can visit us at our main Reception in Ennig Office, The Square, LD3 0BW on weekdays during term times from 10am – 4pm. 

BMC encourages active travel; we can help you with planning cycling routes or improving your confidence on a bike. We offer a lift share scheme for staff and students sharing similar routes and as we grow will explore transport needs and how we can meet them.

Our new campus in the Rhondda Valley is based in Treherbert, where we make use of a variety of community-based locations for classes. Our main base here is the Old Library, Bute Street, CF42 5NR, on the A4061. 

Treherbert has strong public transport links via bus or train, with a direct train running to Treherbert directly from Cardiff Central and Pontypridd. Treherbert is around 30-minutes from Merthyr Tydfil, and around 1-hour from Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.

Because “the planet you think you live on no longer exists.” – Ben Rawlence.

BMC was founded as a direct response to the climate and ecological emergency. Recognising that society was unprepared for the impacts of climate breakdown, BMC is driven by concerns for the future and the uncertain world future generations will inherit.

Despite the changes already occurring on our planet, our actions and daily lives have yet to fully reflect this reality. BMC believes that public education plays a crucial role in both mitigating the effects of climate breakdown and empowering individuals and communities to adapt. We provide what theorists call ‘values-based’ education using activist pedagogies: the idea that the content, territory and outcome of the learning is social change in the real world. Through innovative learning, we aim to help people implement new, sustainable actions to withstand climate challenges and build a more resilient future.

We exist to provide education in Wales with the well-being of these future generations in mind. To deliver accessible education that empowers communities, and the people within them to flourish in a warming world. To take action, to make changes, to adapt, and to promote resilience. We aim to close the gap between life and learning, and the gap between humans and nature. To progress towards a healthier, more equal, more sustainable Wales.

Black Mountains College is a mission-oriented institution, not limited to a specific level. All our courses are aimed at equipping you with the skills to forge more sustainable futures.

We aim to prepare you for the changing world and help you explore how to change it.

We have an open admissions policy – we look for potential to contribute to change, not prior achievement. This requires collaboration and everyone’s input.

We apply the science of learning at all levels: learning is practical and theoretical – with our programmes addressing real-world challenges practically and holistically, combining insights from a wide range of disciplines and professional practices.

You can customise your study options – we give you the opportunity to work alongside tutors who will guide you in your own learning journey, wherever that might lead.

Located in some of the most beautiful places in the world. For us, nature is the classroom and a laboratory with its range of biodiverse natural ecosystems and the impacts of human influence is the perfect context for exploring the challenge of a sustainable transition.