There is a long-established tradition of Higher Education provision in Doncaster which has been described as ‘Doncaster’s best-kept secret.
University-level courses have been taught in Doncaster since 1949 when Doncaster College of Education was opened as constituent college of Sheffield University Institute of Education. The College of Education was relocated to Melton Park Hall in High Melton (six miles from Doncaster town centre) in 1952. This site served as the main campus for Doncaster’s local HE provision for 65 years until its relocation to the town centre in the summer of 2017.
The relocation of the University Centre from High Melton to the town centre Hub campus has expanded the visibility of Higher Education in Doncaster. This has resulted in a 25% increase in the number of full-time students enrolling on University-level courses this year. Currently there are over 1200 students studying towards Bachelor’s Degrees, Foundation Degrees, HNDs, Master’s Degrees and a range of professional qualifications.
The University Centre works collaboratively with the University of Hull, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Cumbria and (from later this year) the University of Lincoln. The University Centre has strong relationships with their University partners who award the degrees which the college offers.
As well as attracting 18 year olds with A-levels and BTECs, the University Centre specialises in offering University-level courses to ‘non-traditional’ students who decide to do a degree later in life and who sometimes have few formal qualifications before they start.
Alan Girvin (Director of Higher Education at the University Centre) states “Every year hundreds of local Doncaster people graduate from the University Centre with a degree or an HND. Many of our students have children or relatives to care for, all of them have jobs, so the University Centre is the only place they can go to get a degree while managing their family and work-commitments at the same time.
We are very proud of the way we provide a flexible Higher Education offer for local people whose circumstances make it impossible for them to travel every day to other Universities in Yorkshire. The University Centre transforms the lives of hundreds of Doncaster people every year and provides essential skills for the continued growth of the local economy.”
Alongside flexible learning which enables students to study alongside their other commitments, the University Centre offers a more personalised approach to teaching than larger Universities: small class-sizes, individualised academic support, quick feedback on assignments. Course fees are also £2000 per year cheaper than larger universities.
If you are interested in finding out more about the University Centre then please visit our open event which is taking place at The Hub on Wednesday 3rd April at 5pm – 7pm. Here you will be able to tour the campus, chat to tutors and students as well as having the opportunity to speak to advisors. To book your place please visit www.don.ac.uk
