UNIVERSITY centres in East Lancashire have spaces available on higher education level courses despite fears some students would miss out.

Bosses have said funding for additional places has resulted in spaces still being available for potential students.

Education bosses and students feared there would be a scramble for places nationally with predictions hundreds of thousands would not secure a place on degree level courses.

This followed a surge in applications to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, UCAS.

But bosses Blackburn College’s University Centre said the majority of courses still had places available for the start of the semester later this month.

And although the University of Central Lancashire, which has a campus in Burnley, was almost full the day after A-level results day it too has some spaces on courses such as adventure sports leadership.

Dr Martin Brown, the University of Central Lancashire’s director for the Burnley campus, said: “The good news is we still have a few Burnley campus places available on programmes such as BA (Hons) Adventure Sports Leadership and BA (Hons) Eastern Fashion Design, but they are going fast.

“Thanks to additional Government funding we have also been awarded some extra places in Science Technology English and Maths subject areas and as a result a few places remain in computing related courses such as computer aided engineering and media production.

“If there are still local students looking for a university place then I would urge them to contact us as soon as they can and possibly take advantage of special qualifying grants available for these courses.”

Yanina Williams, vice-principal for quality and development at Blackburn College, said: “University Centre at Blackburn College still has places available on the majority of its courses. This is because the College was given funding for an additional 299 places this year."