More students apply to UCO

UNIVERSITY Campus Oldham (UCO) is bucking the national trend with a rise in applications for September — despite an increase in tuition fees.

Applications for full-time undergraduate courses at the centre, part of Huddersfield University, are up 9 per cent compared with the same time last year and a drop of of 2 per cent nationally.

Universities are able to charge increased fees of up to £9,000 a year from September and there were fears that this would lead fewer applications.

But applications across Huddersfield University are up 5 per cent — despite last year’s figured being skewed by an increase as people tried to beat the fee hike.

Chancellor Professor Peter Slee said factors in the success included better advertising and levying a “fair fee” of £7,950, which includes UCO.

He added: “We have a portfolio of programmes which meet the needs of students, employers and the economy. We can demonstrate really strong credentials to students.”

UCO head Debbie Bridge added: “Applications for undergraduate courses at UCO have risen over 9 per cent up on this time in 2011. This is very encouraging, and it is great to see that our new courses in psychology, law and early years doing so well.”