Applications to University College Jersey rise by 20%

The number of people applying to study at University College Jersey (UCJ) this year has risen by 20 per cent compared to last year.

When term starts in September, there will be more than 200 Higher Education students studying at UCJ which is based at Highlands College.

UCJ, which is the Higher Education Department of Highlands College, works in partnership with the University of Plymouth, the University of Sussex, London South Bank University, as well as Pearson to provide access to degrees and Higher Apprenticeship qualifications in Jersey. This year the number of courses on offer at the university has been expanded to include a B.Eng in Civil Engineering, a BSc in Computing and a BA in Coaching and Development. This year, 208 people have been offered places to study at UCJ, compared to 173 in 2019.

Lee Johnson, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Quality, Highlands College, said: "It is unclear if the rise in applicants is a result of the pandemic or simply a result of more Islanders being aware of the excellent work UCJ does.

"UCJ has formed strong partnerships with global universities to ensure the highest quality teaching. The university performs well academically and has a much higher proportion of students achieving First degrees than most UK universities. In addition, our students have the opportunity to undertake ten-week industry placements which in turn leads to excellent graduate employment."

Assistant Education Minister, Deputy Jeremy Maçon, added: "It’s fantastic to see UCJ growing from strength to strength. Jersey should be proud that it offers such a wide variety of Higher Education courses from digital to sports which means we can grow our own talent on-Island.

"I can personally endorse the Higher Education provision having graduated from Highlands College in Partnership with Plymouth University in 2008 and was subsequently elected to the States Assembly later the same year."

The UCJ team will be available on Thursday to offer expert advice and guidance in relation to Higher Education in Jersey. For an informal chat and to explore options, please call 01534 608608 or drop into the Highlands Information Centre (HIC) at any time between 8:30am and 4pm.