A range of exciting new partnership degree courses being offered by Forth Valley College and the University of Aberdeen will offer free accommodation to students in their third and fourth years, in order to widen access for students to pursue pathways to further study in key employment sectors.
The courses are the first partnership degrees that the University of Aberdeen has offered in conjunction with a Scottish college and applications are now open for August 2024 entry.
35 places will be available in total, in areas linked with key government priorities such as sustainability, green energy, technology, health and science.
Successful applicants will start their degree studies at Forth Valley College before benefiting from free accommodation in their 3rd and 4th years at the University of Aberdeen whilst completing their degree. The free accommodation offer aims to address barriers to higher education such as financial constraints and the cost of living crisis.
Students will have university status from their first year, however, the partnership degree pathway offers them the opportunity to study locally for the first two years, benefit from smaller class sizes and more 1:1 time with lecturers whilst at college and build their confidence before progressing to university to complete their qualification.
Courses are available in a range of STEM disciplines. The Partnership Degree incorporating the HND Applied Biological Sciences can lead to a BSc in a range of disciplines including: Animal Behaviour and Welfare; Biochemistry; Biology; Biological Sciences; Ecology; Molecular and Cellular Biology; Pharmacology; Physiology; and Zoology.
In the engineering field, partnership degrees leading to BEng qualifications in variants of Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering are all being offered.
The qualifications also receive input from employers across industry and the result is programmes which deliver highly skilled and work ready graduates.
Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Aberdeen to bring these exciting opportunities to aspiring scientists and engineers across Forth Valley. These are excellent programmes which will help students develop the skills to become industry ready and have excellent prospects for a career in STEM upon completing their degree.
“Both organisations have an excellent reputation for their STEM provision and students will benefit from state-of-the-art learning environments, labs and workshops and highly experienced teaching staff.
“We also expect the offer of free accommodation in the third and fourth years to be really popular with students and it will widen access to higher education for many prospective students who may not have been able to consider it previously.”
Jo-Anne Murray, Vice-Principal (Education) at the University of Aberdeen, said:“Our founding purpose is to be open to all and we are focused on providing an outstanding and inclusive educational environment which gives every student the opportunity to reach their own potential.
“Forth Valley College is a valued partner and we are pleased to be able to open up these new partnership degree programmes. We are delighted to be able to support the students with our free accommodation offer when they move to Aberdeen in their third year. We hope this makes the degrees a viable option for more students and allows them to experience all Aberdeen has to offer. We look forward to welcoming the first cohort of new partnership students later in the summer.”
Applications are now open for August 2024 entry.