West Suffolk College

Address and Location

UCS is a new type of higher education provider. The organisation works with several other universities to offer degrees in its own name, operating across six sites in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Otley and at Suffolk New College. UCS aims to offer an environment where students, staff, business and education interact in new and exciting ways.

 

 

Background and History

UCS was officially launched on 1 August 2007, making it one of the newest universities in the UK. The institute is the fruit of a partnership between the University of East Anglia, University of Essex, Great Yarmouth College, Lowestoft College, Otley College, Suffolk New College and West Suffolk College. Until the founding of the college, Suffolk was one of only four counties in the UK without a HE institution.

Location and Accessibility

The main UCS campus is in Ipswich, accessible via the Ipswich and Derby Road railway stations, and the A14/A176 into the city. Visit the university website for details on how to find each campus.

What's on Offer?

UCS offers a range of foundational and undergraduate degrees.

Entry Requirements

Entry standards vary between subjects, with foundation and undergraduate degree courses requiring a 200 and 280 UCAS points respectively. Specific programme information can be found on the UCS website.

University Private Accommodation

The main UCS site in Ipswich provides rooms for 600 learners. If a student's course is based at one of the other five UCS Centres, the university is able to advise on alternate living arrangements.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

UCS is split into five academic schools: Applied Social Sciences; Arts and Humanities; Business, Leadership and Enterprise; Nursing and Midwifery, and Science, Technology and Health. Research is central to UCS' strategy and supported by the Office of Research and Enterprise. The fact that the university has not existed for long means it lacks an established academic reputation. That said, all degrees awarded by the institute are validated by the Universities of East Anglia and Essex, both well-respected institutions in their own right.

Tuition Fees

Undergraduate courses currently cost £9,000 per year. Fees for international students and postgraduates vary.

Financial Support: A variety of scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available to undergraduates and postgraduates. Check the university website for more details.

Academic Facilities

UCS offers an innovative and modern approach to learning, providing a virtual learning environment used by all students and staff across the UCS network, well-stocked libraries and state-of-the-art computing and IT services. Laboratories, classrooms and lecture theatres across the six campuses are generally modern and of a high standard.  

Other on-site Amenities

UCS has arrangements in place to allow student groups to access various sporting facilities in Ipswich. The UCS Students' Union also runs a variety of clubs and societies and provides its own bars, shops and cafes on the different campuses. UCS Otley boasts a state-of-the-art equine centre with an Olympic-standard indoor and outdoor school, horse walker and riding simulator.    

Medical and Social Care

The UCS Student Support team offers a range of information, advice and guidance to students when required.

 

What's on in the Area?

The Suffolk region is composed of a distinctive blend of modern towns and ancient villages, set against 45 miles of unspoilt coastline. County town Ipswich is busy, with plenty of shops, restaurants, clubs and bars for nights out. Felixstowe, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth offer seaside day trips, and nearby Southwold is one of the most picturesque towns in England, with its landmark lighthouse and famous Adnams' brewery. London is only an hour away and the region has excellent road, rail and air links to the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond.

 

Moving On

UCS provides a careers guidance service for students during and after their degree.

Ipswich is one of the oldest towns in the UK, colonised by the Romans and expanding steadily from the area around the town dock. Enid Blyton trained as a teacher in the town, and Arthur Ransome lived there while he pennedSwallows Amazons.  

Is University Campus Suffolk the right place for you?

Being part of a truly unique institution means students at UCS should not expect a typical university experience; a large student community and bustling campus are not what the college offers. Instead, mature and part-time learners are catered for. UCS offers a glimpse into the future of UK universities - and things look very interesting indeed.