Blackburn College promoting university education in East Lancashire. Accrington & Rossendale College, Blackburn College, Burnley College, Nelson & Colne College and St. Mary’s College

Blackburn College

Over 2200 students each year study at Blackburn College's East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education. Come and join them!

graduates dressed in gowns

Blackburn College offers programmes at a variety of levels: HNC/HND, foundation degrees, honours degrees, master’s degrees and professional courses. It has 5 academic schools: East Lancashire Business School, and the Schools of Education, School of Arts Humanities and Social sciences, School of Science and Technology, School of Law justice and Community Studies. With over 30 years’ experience of providing higher education, Blackburn College has a reputation for outstanding student success and excellent student support, with many students gaining first class honours degrees.

It is an Associate College of Lancaster University, most of the degrees awarded are Lancaster degrees, although we also offer degrees from the Universities of Glamorgan, Central Lancashire and Huddersfield. All degrees are taught entirely at the East Lancashire Institute. Blackburn College attracts students from across the region, as well as nationally and internationally, and all benefit from small class sizes and great facilities. Its Vocational Educational Training (VET) programmes provide maximum flexibility, incorporating a mix of distance learning and short courses.


Lee Davies and Daniel ClarkeCase Study - Chorley Student Treads The Boards

Chorley student, Amy Fishwick, 25 studied a Certificate in Education at Blackburn College’s East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education last year. Faced with a testing year, Amy had the difficult task of juggling childcare and studying when her partner in the Armed Forces was posted out to serve in Iraq. For Amy’s hard work and determination she was awarded the prestigious Ede and Ravenscroft Award for Outstanding Achievement and Endeavour at this years Higher Education Awards.

Studying for a degree in Musical Theatre urged Amy to complete a Certificate in Education in order for her to be able to fulfil her dream of running acting workshops for children and young adults. Amy said, “I realised it was my ambition to provide acting workshops for children while I was studying for a degree in Musical Theatre, as it had always been of particular interest to me. I was aware that in order to make my dream a reality I would need to gain a teaching qualification and Blackburn College seemed like the obvious choice due to its excellent reputation.”

“The course was well structured and the tutors were extremely supportive, making my time at Blackburn College thoroughly enjoyable” continued Amy. The Certificate in Education is a one year course aimed at those who wish to teach, or are perhaps already involved in teaching or training and want to improve their skills and acquire a qualification.


Eric Parr

Case Study - Dyslexic Eric An Inspiration

Eric Parr is an inspiration to people with dyslexia. He was only diagnosed with the condition in his 30’s, years after he had left school to work as an apprentice. He started a HND (Higher National Diploma) in engineering at Blackburn College in 1993 after he found himself unemployed. Then he found out he was dyslexic. Eric, a dad of three, and step dad of 2 said “It was a relief to find out I had dyslexia because at school I was just branded ‘thick’. The College gave me a lot of support, with one-to-one tuition, and financial help so I could get a computer”

Eric also found that his years in industry meant he was “up to speed” on his subject, and so began teaching at the College. Fourteen years later he is still a lecturer, during which time he has gained a 2:1 Bachelor of Engineering degree, and an MPhil/PhD in engineering, fro the University of Central Lancashire. Eric said “I only ever intended to come to Blackburn College to do a degree, but they encouraged me to stay on. The support here is amazing. “I’d like my story to encourage people with dyslexia to not let it stop them. It can be a struggle, but get on with it and work hard and you can do anything”