University to launch new study centre in Manchester
A university which specialises in distance and blended learning is expanding its reach by opening a new study centre in Manchester.
The university aims to offer a more flexible and affordable way to get a degree or masters, catering for school leavers, people with caring responsibilities or those already in work.
With fees of up to a third less than traditional institutions, Arden University says that the centre in Dickinson Street is part of a national drive to make higher education more accessible. It is also opening a third campus in London and a new study centre in Birmingham in the autumn.
“It’s never too late to go after your dreams and get a degree”, says Victoria Stakelum, the university’s deputy CEO. Stakelum dropped out of college and worked in a call centre before deciding she wanted to go to university. After false starts with maths and psychology A-Levels, she eventually got 4 As after returning to college– in philosophy, theatre studies, media studies and general studies – and was offered a place at Oxford University.
Stakelum graduated with a 2:1 in archaeology and anthropology at St Peter’s College, Oxford, and her experience is now driving her to help others.
“My degree opened the door to a fulfilling and successful career, while my unusual route through education taught me resilience, communication skills and adaptability – and the need to do more to support disadvantaged students. Families that have not had steady incomes or a history of higher education can be debt averse and cautious with finances. I was lucky to study my degree in the era of grants. In the same position today, I would simply not have gone away to university – the scale of debt would have been too daunting,” she says.
“Arden University’s new Manchester study centre gives people unique ways to learn on their terms by combining the best of going to university and fully-supported online learning. People can fit studying around their lives rather than the other way around.
“We have designed career-enhancing qualifications that are supported by effective and innovative use of technology. You can also earn-while-you-learn, or fit your studies around your job or childcare with our blended learning courses. Flexible funding options are available, and the centre is a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly and the Central Library.”
Undergraduates at Arden’s Manchester centre, for example, will have two to three days a week of expert face-to-face teaching in the classroom plus fully-support online learning whether that’s on smartphones or other mobile devices.
Students can join a three-year programme or complete undergraduate degrees over four years with an integrated foundation year. This enables students who don’t meet the entry requirements for a three-year degree to focus on essential study skills and progress on to undergraduate study.
The MBA and professional masters programmes involve one evening class every fortnight and full support online over two years.
Stakelum added: “A range of industry-accredited undergraduate and postgraduate courses are now open for applications. Subjects range from undergraduate degrees in business, computing, criminology and psychology, healthcare management and law, to master’s degrees in marketing, security management and project management, when the Manchester study centre opens in the autumn.”
With A-level results day and university clearing nearing, Arden University says it is “here to help”, with the Manchester study centre providing an alternative to students worried about their grades.
Victoria Stakelum, Deputy CEO of Arden University.
