A CITY college has secured a credit-crunching deal for its students going onto university.
Liverpool Community College has struck an agreement with the University of Bolton which will see students who go onto the university in 2012 get more than £2,000 in free handouts.
The move comes as tuition fees are set to spiral next year after the Government lifted the existing £3,290 cap.
And the “unique scholarship package” was unveiled as the latest official figures from higher education body UCAS show a 12% drop in applications from UK students for 2012.
Confirming the deal, a Liverpool Community College spokesman, said they hoped the financial incentive would encourage as many students as possible to go on to university.
Under the new agreement students who progress onto the University of Bolton from September will be entitled to £750 each year which they will not have to pay back – the equivalent of £2,250 for a three year course.
But they could receive an additional £500 for achieving 300 UCAS points at A-Level or equivalent.
The university also decided against charging the maximum £9,000 a year tuition fees being introduced at other institutions including the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores and Ormskirk’s Edge Hill University.
Instead, depending on the course, University of Bolton students from 2012 will pay between £6,300-£8,400 a year.
Gill Banks, assistant principal for 14-19 curriculum at Liverpool Community College, said: “I am delighted to announce the partnership agreement with the University of Bolton.
“It is an excellent institution which boasts fantastic facilities and exceptional links with employers.
“It also shares the same values and ethos as the college and is committed to making learning accessible, raising the skills of the future workforce.”
The college said the partnership is an advancement of a longstanding successful relationship which has resulted in many of the college’s students progressing to study at the university.
Martyn Shaw, director marketing and international recruitment at the University of Bolton, said: “We look forward to collaborating with Liverpool Community College and their students to ensure they are informed about career opportunities and progression routes and how the University of Bolton can support and develop them through a variety of higher education options.”
Taster days at the university, seminars, question and answer sessions with industry experts and careers fairs will also be incorporated into the scholarship scheme.
Graduates of the college’s games development course have already been able to benefit from this scholarship as many of them chose to continue their study at the University of Bolton in September.
