University Campus Suffolk makes bid to ditch UEA

The University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is undergoing changes in the hope of gaining independent university status. Currently being sponsored by both the UEA and the University of Essex, the UCS is keen to market itself as a stand-alone university, something that is fully supported by both its sponsors.

A UEA report stated that “The main marketing problem is prospective students are uncertain as to the status of UCS – essentially, is it a university or not?”

UCS is currently sponsored by UEA and the University of Essex

UCS has already put an application in to the Quality Assurance Agency and the Privy Council. There is still some way to go and UCS wouldn’t be able to apply for full university status until next year. As well as this, all exams and courses need to be checked by the QAA.

If UCS manages to gain full university status, it would then need to embark on the task of creating a new name, the University of Suffolk already being in the pipeline. The name seems apt as the UCS run courses in different parts of the county including Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich.

Richard Lister, Provost and Chief Executive of UCS, hopes that the process of moving towards a more positive and strong status for the university will be successful. He said: “Both UEA and Essex University have been very supportive to us but it is not a quick process.”

UCS is ready to cut links with UEA and become a university in its own right

Being supported by two well-established universities has increased the number of degree courses made available to students and made possible the first buildings on the waterfront of the campus. However, UCS is now ready to move on to becoming its own independent university, becoming more prestigious and consequently gaining more students.