Admission, Selection & Recruitment Policy
This document details NICON’s policy and procedure for admissions, selection and recruitment of students to its education programs.
The policy detailed in this document will be applied fairly and equitably, which is consistent with our commitment to providing a flexible and quality learning opportunities for prospective and admitted students and meets with the requirements for the maintenance of the NICON’s academic standards.
Aims of the admissions policy and procedure
NICON is committed to equality of opportunity for all prospective and existing students. We aim to create a learning environment where all students are treated solely on the basis of merit, performance, and capability regardless of gender, ethnicity, belief, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age, disability etc.
NICON aims to recruit with integrity, transparency and high professionalism. We aim to ensure that places are offered to prospective students whose qualifications, skills and experience match the entry requirements and academic demands of the program. In recruiting, selecting and admitting students, NICON aims to:
- Widen participation and provide equality of opportunity to prospective and admitted students judged to be able to complete their program of study successfully.
- Recruit students to programs which best meet their stated career needs and aspirations.
- Offer professional, fair and unbiased advice and guidance about the program(s) the College offers to prospective students.
NICON aims to offer all students a high-quality learning and social environment, free from discrimination, where academic and professional potential can be supported and realized through study. We attempt to ensure there is compatibility between the qualifications, skills and experience of admitted students and the demands of the program, through the use of a dedicated recruitment and admissions team.
Entry requirements
Certificate Level
- 10 years of Schooling and above
- Age 15 and above
- Computer Literacy
Diploma Level
- Minimum age 16 years and above
- 10 years of Schooling
- Computer Literacy
- Those who are planning to build their careers in relevant fields.
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from employer, etc.
Advance Diploma level
- Minimum age 16 years and above
- 10 years of Schooling
- Computer Literacy
- Those who are planning to build their careers in relevant fields.
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from employer, etc.
Intakes
To be admitted to a program students must meet the entry requirements which are published by NICON on its website or other means. We recruit students on to programs based on current formal qualifications, experience.
Care is taken to maintain the completeness, accuracy and reliability of information in order to help students make informed decisions. NICON reserves the right to amend, include or exclude any entry requirement(s), the content or other details of the program, in response to any external changes, such as those informed to the College by awarding bodies. NICON College also reserves the right to withdraw a program in response to low demand, as a consequence of lack of capacity or any other delivery imperative. However, in all such eventualities, students will be informed at the earliest opportunity and will be provided with guidance and support about alternative options that may be available. In the case of the withdrawal of a program, alternative options will be provided, the acceptance of which is the decision of the prospective student.
Applicants are strictly advised that the stated entry requirements are adhered to by NICON College.
Formal Education Qualifications
Prior to enrolment, applicants will be asked to provide evidence of original certificates of formal education qualifications.
Equivalent formal certificated qualifications are accepted.
Work or other Relevant Experience
A prospective student requesting consideration of relevant work or other experience as meeting, in part or fully, the stated entrance requirements for a program must submit written evidence in support of their application. The Recruitment and Admissions Team will advise prospective students about the work or other experiential evidence that would be acceptable.
Prospective students will be informed of the outcome of their application via email. NICON will carefully consider all applications which fulfil the stated entry requirements, and will make either a conditional offer, a non-conditional offer, or a rejection; in all cases further advice and guidance will be offered.
In the event of prospective students not fulfilling the requirements for acceptance, NICON will provide feedback, upon request, with the reasons given for non-acceptance. NICON will also provide alternative program options to such students, should there be any available and as long as they have the entry qualifications as stated on the student’s application and required by the program.
NICON reserves the right to refuse an application from any student on the following (not limited to) grounds:
- Limited availability of places
- Application for enrolment on a program made on the basis of falsified documentation
- Lack of capacity or resources to run the program
- The general interests of the wider community of students and staff
- Inability to meet a student’s special requirements
- If a student is unable to meet the entry requirements for the program.
It is the responsibility of prospective students to declare their true and current immigration status at the time of submitting application for entry to a higher education program offered by NICON.
Recognition of Prior Learning
NICON makes provision for prospective students to evidence prior learning and for this to be recognized. Prospective students are required to demonstrate that they already have the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to achieve the learning outcomes stated by NICON. Evidence will be evaluated against the learning outcomes and assessment criteria from the relevant program specification. It is the responsibility of the prospective or current student to demonstrate, with objective evidence, that he or she has already achieved the appropriate and claimed learning outcomes for the relevant part of the program. The College will only recognize prior learning which is equivalent on a like-to-like basis for the program under application.
Appeals and complaints concerning the recruitment, selection and admission process
Appeals
Students may appeal against the admission decision, particularly where a prospective student’s application has been rejected or the prospective student has been offered a place on a program that he or she did not initially apply for. To appeal against a selection or admission decision made by NICON, the prospective student who has made the application must complete the Admission Appeals Form which is provided on the College website. The Admission Appeals Form must be completed in full and sent to hnd@nicon.edu.pk or sent by post to the address given on the form. NICON will acknowledge the appeal against an admission decision and aim to make a formal response within ten working days of receipt of the Admissions Appeal Form. If the form has not been completed properly and/or important information is missing the College will contact the person making the appeal to request additional information. If this happens, the College will formally respond to the appeal within ten working days when it has all the information necessary to consider the case and the grounds for the appeal.
Complaints
NICON is committed to operating its recruitment, selection and admission procedure in a professional, transparent and timely way and hopes that any dissatisfaction with our service can be resolve amicably and informally. However, prospective or current students may make a complaint about the recruitment, selection and admission process operated by NICON by using the College’s complaints policy, procedure and complaints form. It is the policy of NICON to endeavor to resolve a complaint informally with the complainant if at all possible. Anyone wishing to make a complaint is asked to attempt informal resolution, in line with the Complaints Policy, before making a formal complaint. If the prospective or current student wishes to make a formal complaint, he or she should use the College’s Complaints Policy and Complaints Form which is provided on the website. The form should be completed as fully as possible and then either emailed to complaints@nicon.edu.pk or sent by post addressed to the Program Manager on the respective addresses given under Company Information. Any complaint about the recruitment, selection and admission process will be dealt with using the procedure and timescales stated in the Complaints Policy.
Applicants with special needs/disabilities
Applicants with disabilities and/or additional learning needs are considered on the same academic grounds as all other applicants. Prospective students will be requested to self-declare such needs at the point of application to ensure appropriate levels of support will be available for support the program of studies. NICON does reserve the right to refuse admission due to lack of capability or resources to meet the additional learning needs provided by the prospective student in his or her application.
Selection and admission Procedure
Applying to NICON College is a straightforward process. The following are the stages involved:
STAGE 1: THE APPLICATION
The first stage is to fully complete an application form for the program(s) of study you wish to be considered for. Prospective students are advised to read about the program and the entry requirements and visit NICON’s website before completing out an application form. A hard copy of the completed application form must be submitted along with all the required documents
STAGE 2: ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICATION
An Admission Officer will assess and forward the application and supporting documentation to the Admissions Team. The application will be returned if incomplete and all supporting documentation has not been provided by the prospective student.
STAGE 3: VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTATION
If the application is complete and all supporting documentation has been provided, the prospective student will be invited by a member of the Admission Team to attend the College for the purpose of verification of documents. At this visit, the prospective student will need to bring the original version of all the qualifications submitted in support of the application. Once authenticated, the staff member of the Admission Team will stamp the copies of the documentation supplied after viewing the original to indicate the documents have been authenticated.
STAGE 4: ENROLMENT LETTER
The letter will provide information regarding fees, any loan facilities available to the student, and advise the date of the induction week and the start of the program.
Consent and use of information
By signing and submitting the application form, prospective students give consent to NICON for processing the information provided on the form for selection, admission, enrolment, communication and administrative purposes. The prospective student further agrees to the processing and disclosure of the details for any purpose connected with their studies, or for any other legitimate purpose including the compilation of statutory statistical data and personal returns. All application information supplied by the prospective student is treated in strict confidence and is only shared between the applicant, the Admissions Officers and any members of Recruitment and Admissions Team, relevant authorities, and/or the concerned academic personnel. All data is held and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Policy.
