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

St Mary’s College

St. Mary’s College offers the opportunity for students to study a range of higher education courses in their local community.

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St. Mary’s College has been in partnership with Liverpool Hope University since 1999, offering a wide variety of high quality courses; various Single Honours Degrees and the Post Graduate Certificate in Education for teaching at Primary level. In July 2008 our cohort of Honours degree students graduated with outstanding results, demonstrating once again, that the flexibility and supportive nature of our programme can help students achieve their true potential.

September 2006 saw the college branch out further, joining forces with the University of Central Lancashire, offering a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care. The course aims to equip students working, or intending to work in health and social care with relevant knowledge and skills, to address their continuing development needs and to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The college seeks to provide a challenging, high quality education whereby all members of the college community can grow as balanced individuals, morally, intellectually and spiritually. St. Mary’s prides itself in being able to give each student individual attention in a caring community.

Chris StrangerCase Study - Gary Kennedy, Just finished his first year of a BA Combined (Honours) Degree in English Literature and Business Studies

I am currently working at a local engineering business as a programmer and setter but I have always been fascinated by the processes involved in running a successful business. I decided to study for a Honours degree in Business combined with English Literature as I felt this would give me a greater insight into how businesses work and also because I have always been a keen reader. I actually studied at St. Mary’s College for my O-Levels leaving in 1978, so it has been quite strange returning nearly thirty years later to study for my degree. My return to education has been made very easy by the excellent support given by both the University lecturers and the Degree staff at St. Mary’s. I have attended both academic and information technology workshops which are run by the Higher Education staff and I found them a great help when it has come to conducting research and writing assignments. I have really enjoyed my first year at St. Mary’s and would tell anybody that it is never too late to do a degree.


Sabiha Kovariwala

Case Study - Uzma Afzaal, Currently studying for a BA Combined (Honours) in English Literature and Information Technology

I am now entering the final year of a part-time BA Combined (Honours) degree in English Literature and Information Technology and I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at St. Mary’s College so far. I have found the flexible evening degree programme an ideal route, as it means I can fit my studies around both my family and work commitments. Not only am I a mother to a young daughter, but I also work as a Teaching Assistant at a local Primary School. I would recommend an evening degree course at St. Mary’s to anyone, the tuition from Liverpool Hope Lecturers is of the highest quality and the support on offer by the Higher Education staff at the college is excellent. This has made my return to education much more manageable and less daunting. I am confident that my degree will offer me a wide range of career opportunities, and I am already considering following my degree with a Primary PGCE course.