PSC Essential Info
Deadline for Applications : 1st July 2026
We recommend you send in your application form, even if you aren’t ready to pay your deposit, as it starts the process rolling. We will then keep you informed as to how the course is filling up so that you can confirm your place before all places are filled.
Your Questions, Answered:
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Shared Transport Costs
To Bristol projects, overnight field trips, roundhouse build site etc
Pay as you go e.g. you only pay for trips you are present for.
Each trip is uniquely calculated
Payments broken down into a sliding scale for payment: Lower / Actual Cost / Higher
With the option to opt out of shared transport if you would prefer to make your own arrangements.
Bristol based and localish trips: £3 to £5
Further afield: between £14 to £23
Shared Food Costs
For overnight field trips:
Evening meal: £3
Breakfast: £1.50
Additional Kit costs:
Suitable clothing and footwear for participating in outdoor activities in all weathers.
Steel-toe capped boots for participating in activities involving tools and weight.
Field Trips: Lunchbox, flask/water container.
Overnight stay: Sleeping bag / pillow etc
Classroom: Notebook.
Other optional costs:
All other kit for participating in course activities is provided for, but you may also wish to purchase your own.
Organic Horticulture: pen knife, secateurs, work gloves, loppers, pruning saw.
Classroom: Pencil case & stationery.
Permaculture Design: compass (both kinds), long tape measure
Comfort Kit: Hot water bottle, slippers (no shoes in the classroom teaching space)
We ask for a £20 refundable deposit for using the course library
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The design of the course (the study hours) allows students to claim Universal Credit whilst studying, and apply for a Council Tax reduction. We have a letter ‘Statement of Education’ for students to prove they are studying with us.
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2-day Outdoor First Aid - Laura Corfield, Kizzie Fitzwilliams
Mental Health First Aid - Laura Corfield, Kizzie Fitzwilliams, Danny Balla
Understanding Autism : Starter Course with Somerset Skills & Learning - Laura Corfield
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Facilitators communicate and share information with students verbally, via email (google group), and through the Telegram app.
We also set up a Telegram channel for students to chat to each other.
We use Google docs to help organise things like shared transport and design projects, as well as storing photos and handouts/resources.
We take payments for shared transport and food costs field using the Collectiv app.
We store information and files for the year on a Trelloboard.
Please let us know on your application whether lack of access to technology will be a limiting factor for you, so we can discuss alternatives.
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In order to aid the smooth running of the course we arrange the larger course group into smaller Clan groups. Each clan takes on a responsibility, such as keeping the space neat and tidy, purchasing beverage supplies, planning a meal and cooking on a field trip, organising shared transport etc. These roles are passed on to a new clan each term.
Clan groups self organise, with the support of the facilitation team if needed. This requires communication, organisation, and doing some jobs outside of course hours when necessary.
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We have a library of over 350 books available to borrow whilst studying with us, on all aspects of Practical Sustainability. We edit and expand on the library each year, ensuring it is built on student recommendations and kept current and representative.
Accreditation & What Next?
The course is deliberately not accredited. We choose to teach for the love of learning; enabling students to engage with the curriculum from all angles and develop diverse skills within a collaborative culture. Past students have appreciated the non-pressured learning environment and the opportunities to discover and explore their own unique passions and pathways - free from examination and testing. We value the strengths and individuality of each student to manifest positive change in the world in their own style. We champion our dedication to creating a course container that empowers students to bring their authentic selves into the room.
We provide a high quality education and we support our tutors and practitioners to bring their extensive practical experience into the classroom in dynamic and accessible ways. We have a great reputation, and students make lasting connections within our growing networks.
The only entry requirements are to apply with an open mind and curiosity for the range of subjects we cover, and lots of enthusiasm and the ability to commit to a year's study with us. You do not need previous experience or credentials in any of the subjects we teach as we always start from the basics.
Permaculture Design Course Certification
Full attendance and participation in the course earns a Permaculture Design Certificate certified by the Permaculture Association UK.
Work completed on the course can contribute to the Permaculture Association's 'Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design' portfolio.
Studying in Bristol
Many students move to Bristol in order to study on the Practical Sustainability Course - despite Bristol being a tricky city to find places to rent. To help students find housemates we have a Telegram group for students to join, so that you can look for house shares together, and so we can signpost opportunities/links for you to explore. We also have a couple of temporary hosts, so if you need a couple of weeks or crash pad space to stay during transitional periods, we can put you in touch.
Some students commute in order to study on the PSC but not need to move to Bristol. This works best when they can find accommodation from Mon eve to Thurs, so the commuting doesn’t take as much of a toll, and there is the opportunity for socialising outside of the course with the other students.
We have put together a Welcome to Brizzle document, for anyone new and wanting to explore what the city has to offer. This includes great projects to visit and volunteer at.
Who Should Apply?
The only entry requirements are to apply with an open mind and curiosity for the range of subjects we cover, and lots of enthusiasm and the ability to commit to a year's study with us. You do not need previous experience or credentials in any of the subjects we teach as we always start from the basics.
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Just like any offering, the PSC is not going to suit everyone. Here are some of the reasons why the PSC might not be a good fit for you…
You prefer to work independently and don’t enjoy prolonged periods of collaborating with others. We’re a big group and that involves everyone having a willingness and capacity to practice compassion and compromise in meeting each other's needs.
You already have a vision and are looking to deepen your understanding or skill development in a focused way, e.g. you know you want to be a grower and would really like to hone your horticulture skills. What you may prefer instead is an apprenticeship.
Equally you are looking for a teaching environment that involves a small tutor to student ratio for learning. What you may prefer instead is a mentorship.
You believe the solution to the challenges humanity faces will mainly be solved by technological advancements or the government. Not to say that you aren’t correct, but you may find a lot of what we cover on the course feels irrelevant for you.
You prefer learning in a linear fashion, where knowledge is imparted by tutors and absorbed by the student (more mainstream models of education). The PSC requires uses a variety of teaching pedagogy, which asks students to contribute as part of the learning, in active and creative ways.
You may struggle to house and support yourself financially during the course. Students who stretch themselves too thinly often end up needing to take time away from the course, and their wellbeing suffers as a result. If you feel this might apply to you, then we advise you considering starting the course a year later, when you are in a more resourced situation.
Accessibility
The Practical Sustainability Course is a dynamic, ambitious and intensive course; some of the aspects are physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. Please let us know on your application about anything that may affect your ability to participate and we can discuss the flexibility and support we can offer. See Terms and Conditions for more information about the course experience for students. A course place will be offered if we can reasonably provide for a student’s needs whilst making sure they are safe and gaining a valuable experience for their investment.