TWO leading Northern universities have heaped praise on Accrington and Rossendale College for the quality of its degree programmes.

The support has come in course reviews by Sheffield and Liverpool John Moores universities. At a time when government changes to funding student grants mean that some people are thinking twice about going to university, the college has welcomed the backing.

College higher education co-ordinator, Dave Tyas, said: "This is good news for the people of Hyndburn and Rossendale who want to take a degree course without the expense or difficulty of travelling outside the region.

"The reviews mean we're recognised as providing higher education programmes of a quality and standard as good as any local university, and that graduates can be sure their degree is considered of equal value by future employers."

Mr Tyas said that very few people would have to pay the £1000 maximum fee and that many would still pay nothing.

The college runs BA(Hons) courses in applied social studies, band studies, cultural studies, health studies, media studies, and a BSc(Hons) in integrated technologies.

It also offers a HND in business Studies, and in September hopes to offer new HND courses.

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