THE number of people applying for courses at Blackburn College’s University Centre has rocketed by 20 per cent in the past 12 months.

The surge in full-time undergraduate course applications has led to record numbers at the campus, based in Feilden Street.

Vice principal for curriculum and quality Tracy Stuart said: “The study comes as little surprise to us, especially when we have great employers such as BAE, Crown Paints and Graham and Brown locally.”

Ms Stuart said she believed the college’s 100 per cent A-level pass rate in more than 20 subjects and top spot for advanced apprenticeship success also helped the town achieve the number one ranking.

She said: “It’s the fact that nine out of 10 graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation and that we have such great multinational companies nearby that really backs up the study.

“Our message is really simple - Blackburn is a brilliant place to study and then go on to work.

“There are currently 553 different job vacancies on the Lancashire Telegraph’s website within 10 miles of Blackburn College and more than 100 apprenticeship vacancies on our website at www.blackburn.ac.uk.

Applications have risen particularly at University Centre at Blackburn College, it was revealed.

The School of Science and Technology has seen more than 82 per cent of courses achieve more applications than the previous year .