Student Life
what is it like to be a student at black mountains college?
At Black Mountains College (BMC), student life is as unique and transformative as the education itself. Whether you’re studying for a degree in Sustainable Futures or completing a vocational NVQ, your time here will be connected to nature, community, and hands-on learning.
You will join like-minded students and staff who will also bring new ideas to challenge and develop your thinking. The college is set within its context; we are part of the communities of Talgarth and Treherbert in and around the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, both of which offer a range of opportunities for you to learn and explore.
Whether you’re a school leaver, a career changer, or simply looking for new ways to engage with the world, BMC offers a transformative educational experience.
Living close to nature
Nestled in and around the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, our campuses offer students the opportunity to live and learn in some of the most beautiful regions in the UK. The stunning natural surroundings are not just a backdrop, but an integral part of student life. The outdoors is your classroom, with lessons and projects often involving working directly with the land, with integrated walks, practical tasks and workshops.
You can get to know your surroundings by enjoying some of the many breathtaking walks in and around the National Park including:
- Pen y Fan, the highest peak in the park
- Corn Du
- Cribyn
- Cwm Hafod Walk, around a famous coal mining valley
- Fan y Big
- Waun Fach, the highest peak in the Black Mountains along the Dragon’s Back – resembling the shape of a sleeping dragon.
- Llyn y Fan Fawr
- The Four Waterfalls
- Hay Bluff
extra curricular activities
Your study experience will be enhanced through field trips and visits to ecologically important and relevant projects.
Of course, it’s not all about study! Life at BMC goes beyond lessons. You can participate in community-led initiatives and groups such as local projects, community orchard or woodland groups, therapeutic horticulture groups, book clubs, or join our student society. There are also regular opportunities to attend workshops, talks, and skill-sharing or volunteering events that support personal development and community resilience.
Our areas offer a host of sports and other outdoor activities, as well as great pubs, cafes and cultural centres.
For example:
- One of the largest climbing walls in South Wales is at the nearby Llangors Activity Centre.
- Theatr Brycheiniog is the local theatre in Brecon, the Coliseum Theatre is in Aberdare, and Park & Dare Theatre is in Treorchy, all of which host a wide range of plays, talks, comedy shows, and concerts. The Coliseum Cinema is also based in Brecon, and Hay Bookshop Cinema is in Hay-on-Wye for Talgarth based students.
- There are leisure centres in Brecon, Rhondda, and nearby in Abergavenny which have clubs for football, netball, gymnastics, swimming, gyms, badminton, hockey, cricket, tennis, judo, yoga, and many more.
- Treherbert and Talgarth both have woodland groups – Welcome to our Woods and Talgarth Community Woodland Group.
- Treherbert and Talgarth both have their own football, rugby and bowls clubs, with competitive netball clubs available in nearby towns of Treorchy and Abergavenny, or social netball in Brecon.
- Other local clubs include mountaineering, boxing, climbing, running, arts, chess, and more!
- Dare Valley Country Park near Treherbert is great for biking, walking and exploring.
- There are opportunities for canoeing, mountaineering, horse riding, hiking, biking and wild swimming across the Bannau Brycheiniog and Rhondda Valley.
- There are also allotments, rural crafts, beekeeping, baking, woodland management, foraging, arts, film, museums etc. in both locations.
Events and Opportunities
Once you are a student, you’ll receive regular updates from us via email or on our Facebook Group page with details of any local events, work or volunteer opportunities. Our local area is the host to a few large annual events including:
- How the Light Gets In Festival of Ideas
- Royal Welsh Agricultural Show
- Brecon Jazz
- Hay Festival
- Abergavenny Food Festival
We host a variety of exciting internal events throughout the year, organised by both our Student Society and BMC. Many of these align with the Celtic Wheel of the Year, celebrating the changing seasons through themed gatherings. Additionally, Freshers Week kicks off the academic year with social activities, helping students connect and settle in.
To top it all off, we close the year with a memorable graduation celebration for all Further Education Students, and an End of Year celebration for Higher Education students to mark their achievements and journeys.
student support &
wellbeing
Well-being and Support:
BMC prioritises student well-being by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. The college is committed to diversity and accessibility, ensuring that students from all backgrounds feel welcomed and supported throughout their studies.
BMC holds additional study sessions every week, hosted by a ‘Creator in Residence’ who supervises extra studio time for students wanting to work on their own projects. Our Student Support Lead – Fenella – runs Study Skills Workshops once a week and provides further 1-on-1 support for those who would like it.
You can read more about Student Support here
Accommodation:
For students enrolled in Talgarth-based courses, BMC offers a range of accommodation options, from shared spaces to self-contained housing. Living in the historic-market town provides the chance to form a tight-knit community with like-minded peers and engage in collaborative learning outside the classroom.
You can read more about the accommodation we offer here
getting involved
Food and Sustainability:
In Talgarth, you will have the chance to contribute to growing food on campus, promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable food systems. We offer a ‘student growing space’ at Troed-yr-Harn, which is a designated area for both Further and Higher Education students to grow on, and look after their own plot on site.
In Treherbert, our partnership with Welcome to Our Woods connects with Crop Cycle Treherbert, where a derelict garage forecourt was transformed into a vibrant community hub. This state-of-the-art growing space on Treherbert High Street offers a hands-on learning environment for BMC students to apply their knowledge. The hub serves as a centre for sustainable living and local engagement, with opportunities for community gardening, volunteering, and regular events, inviting everyone to experience nature and the community’s growth firsthand.
At internal events, students are encouraged to bring a home-made, locally sourced dish to share so students can eat together.
Student Society:
Setup in 2024, our newly formed Student Society is open to both higher and further education students to join. The Student Society organises College-wide activities, events, showcases, and trips. You can seek representation, meet new friends, socialise, seek employment, and have your voice heard.
The Talgarth chapter was established in 2024 and the Treherbert chapter is expected to form in 2025.
A Community of Change-Makers
At any BMC campus, the focus on community is central. Classes are small, fostering strong relationships between students, lecturers, and support staff. Whatever your course, you’ll find yourself working on group projects, participating in discussions, and developing solutions together. You’ll get to know students studying on other courses through student societies, events, and some collaborative learning sessions. This united environment mirrors the systems-thinking approach that underpins our philosophy.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of student life at BMC is the sense of purpose. You’re not just getting a qualification—you’re becoming part of a movement for change. Whatever subject you are studying, you’ll leave BMC with practical skills, critical thinking abilities, and a network of fellow changemakers ready to make a difference.
The BMC Prospectus
Download the Black Mountains College prospectus for an overview of our courses, campuses, and vibrant student life
Visit us
Come along to one of our Discovery Days or Campus Tours to explore our campuses and meet your tutors