AN established college offering degrees has renamed part of its campus as Colchester’s newest university.

Colchester Institute has offered degrees at its Sheepen Road campus for more than 50 years.

Now, the Colchester campus has named its higher education centre University Centre Colchester.

College principal Alison Andreas said: “Although we’ve been running degree courses for more than 50 years, many prospective undergraduates are unaware of this and go further afield to study.

“Having university in our name is the best way of directing people to take a degree on their doorstep.

“The name change also follows three years of intense activity where we have secured external funding of more than £15m at the Colchester campus to give our students the best facilities in which they can learn.”

The money is part of a rolling programme of improvements at the college with the latest developments set to be a new library and south wing.

University Centre Colchester’s degree programmes are validated by the University of Essex.

Colchester’s new mayor Julie attended the launch yesterday.

She said: “This is an exciting development to our already excellent provider of further education.

“It will give students the clarity of the college’s full range of educational opportunities and I am sure will act as a huge recruitment tool.”

Turner Prize-winning ceramicist Grayson Perry, who is an honorary graduate at the college, said: “Going to university is a big, expensive step to take, but it is more than an investment in your future, the most important thing it gives you money cannot buy.

“At university you find yourself amongst people passionate about the same things you are, and you will learn as much from fellow students as you do from tutors. A university is a community, make the most of it.”

Mature student Kylie Baalham, 39, who is studying for a degree in management of hospitality, was pleased with the change of emphasis.

She said: “I attended Colchester Institute as a further education student then, after working in hospitality for 16 years, decided to take a degree to improve my prospects. I searched online and Colchester Institute came up. The name change makes a real difference, sounds more prestigious, and I think it’s important to employers too.”

Colchester Institute has been an integral part of the town since 1885 when it was the Colchester School of Art.

Undergraduate and postgraduate courses are available in 25 subject areas which include Business Administration, Counselling, Acting (Creative Performance), Digital Film Production, Education and Teaching, Fashion and Textiles, Fine Art and Health and Social Care.