8 reasons to study a 1-to-2 year course at City Lit

Whether you’re in need of that big career switch or are looking for your first job, it is never too late to turn your passion into your profession.

You are not alone if you’ve ever thought about changing your line of work. A recent survey found that almost a third of people aged 25 – 34 are considering a switch of careers.

As well as the many of short courses available, City Lit also offers specialised 1-to-2-year courses. These are designed to set you up for the next stage of employment. Many of the courses are also accredited, granting you a higher education qualification.

There are so many advantages to these courses: from the skills you gain; to the contacts you can make; to the employment outcomes upon finishing.

Here are all of the benefits of studying 1-to-2 year course at City Lit.

Most university and college courses can take up a lot of your time, making it hard to work or do other things. Learning and studying can quite easily turn into a full-time job.

However, at City Lit, we aim to make sure this does not prohibit our students who want to turn their passion into their profession. Our 1-to-2-year courses run only a few days each week, sometimes solely in the evenings. This gives you the freedom to balance your other responsibilities.

If you are thinking about changing careers or pursuing higher education, this flexibility is perfect. It lets you keep working while you train, so you can eventually switch jobs.

City Lit student Julia works full-time at a nearby university. She recently completed the Advanced Painting course. "One of the really important factors of this course, for me, is the fact it fitted around a full-time job," she told us.

Our courses are shorter than those at other universities and colleges, which usually require three or more years of study. This gives you the opportunity to develop your skills, get your qualification, and start your next chapter much sooner.

Despite the courses being a shorter length, your learning is not affected. Given their small class sizes, the 1-to-2-year courses offer a much more personalised learning experience. This includes regular individual feedback sessions, tutorials and group crits.

Tutors also ensure you know your options and 'next steps' after finishing, for a smooth transition to a new industry or more education.

The quality of teaching at City Lit is certainly one of the biggest perks of the programmes.

The tutors’ support extend well beyond a simple curriculum. In a recent Ofsted inspection, the quality of education was deemed to be ‘outstanding’. This gives you an sign of the teaching standard of teaching you can expect.

The tutors are experts in their field, often balancing teaching the course with working in their profession. For example, many of our counselling classes are taught by practicing therapists. A number of performing arts tutors are established actors, directors and artists. Their professional knowledge, understanding and experience have proven to be invaluable for students.

Nico, who finished the Therapeutic Counselling Diploma at City Lit, said the same thing. He credited the tutors for giving him the knowledge to break into the industry.

“The counselling department is full of so much knowledge and knowledgeable teachers,” he said, “you're not going to find the same standard of teaching... anywhere else.”

City Lit's modern facilities also help students make the most of their time with the college. The courses benefit from the best spaces we have to offer, like the John Lyons Theatre and Health and Wellbeing Centre.

Our 1-to-2 year courses are also significantly less expensive than a standard undergraduate year at university.

The prices vary depending on the course, ranging from £579 to £5,421 per year. This makes our courses considerably more affordable than similar ones at other institutions.

However, we do understand that this is still a large amount, so City Lit can help financially. There are several bursaries and payment plans which can help alleviate worries around costs.

If you think you may be eligible for a bursary, you can read more about it here.

Lack of experience is another barrier into employment or further study. In creative industries, you need a portfolio or body of work to be able to show off your talents.

We recognise this. That’s why we offer pre-foundation and foundation courses for some subjects. These are designed to give you the best possible introduction to your desired subject and nurture your creative interests.

Tyrell is a great example of this. He recently completed the Acting Foundation (Level 2 Certificate). 'Before I started... at City Lit, I wasn't really doing much drama," he admitted.

But after learning techniques and growing in confidence, Tyrell came into his own as an actor. Following the course, he was accepted to study Acting at LAMDA. "I'm pretty excited because it's a big step" he told us. 

Diversity is what sets City Lit apart from other institutions; people from all walks of life attend the college every day. Our students make long-lasting friendships with people from different backgrounds and ages. They also make important connections for finding jobs.

Belinda, who completed the Acting Diploma (Level 3), spoke about the "priceless" connections she formed at City Lit.

“It’s not just with the tutors [but] with the colleagues as well, she explained, “they’ve given me the space to grow, to improve [and] to challenge myself."

She also talked about getting her first two industry credits by meeting people on the course.

“[This] helped me get on to Spotlight, which I wasn’t on before, and that has opened so many doors.”

She has since gone on to feature in films such as I'm Not You, directed by City Lit Screen Acting Tutor Gary Grant. Tutors like Gary regularly tap into their own networks of contacts to help students. This means that City Lit has developed trusted partners to help students gain industry experience for their training.

Picture the scene. You’ve always wanted to be an actor, and you notice that our Acting Foundation (Level 2 Certificate) course gives you the flexibility to learn while balancing your other job. However, you are lacking confidence and worry you won’t pass the audition to get onto the programme.

In this scenario, we offer short courses to fill knowledge gaps so that our students can succeed. For instance, a one-day introductory acting course could build up your self-belief before auditioning.

These additional short courses are available throughout the tenure of the 1-to-2-year programmes. As such, students can become proficient in multiple disciplines while studying with the college.

Speaking to City Lit Vice Principal Wendy McKaig, she outlined, “We will always find a way to get you where you want to be.

There is no need to turn anyone away from City Lit."

Many former students have enjoyed our long courses and gone on to further education or careers.

Counselling Diploma students often go on to achieve bachelor’s and master’s degrees, start private practices, or work freelance.

Some our former Foundation Art and Design Diploma students have had their work shown in galleries and public spaces across London. Many have now moved into their own studios or have progressed on to further education.

Over the last few years, our Access to Higher Education students were accepted on to courses at the University of Cambridge, Kings College London, UCL and the University of Exeter. This is just a flavour of the opportunities waiting for you upon completion of our City Lit 1-to-2-year courses. 

Study a 1-to-2 year course at City Lit

Consider a City Lit 1-to-2 year course if you have the desire to turn your passion into your profession. They could be the key to unlocking the future you have always dreamed about.