A RAFT of new courses are set to be launched by Blackburn College after a record number of students enrolled this year.

The college has unveiled the new subjects, which are expected to start in January, after more than 1,000 students joined the University Centre in September.

The number of students signing up is almost 30 per cent more than the previous year, according to figures compiled by the college.

A spokesman said that the rise was, in part, due to the launch of the Foundation Studies programmes which were launched in September and support adult learners to enter higher-level study.

The inaugural Foundation Entry courses cover a range of subject areas, including the arts, business, law, education, health, science and technology.

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Dr Thomas Moore, Blackburn College principal and chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have had such a high number of new students join us at Blackburn College.

“It is a testament to the staff and the high quality of courses we provide and it is great to be launching more courses in January offering further opportunities to study a range of subjects at different levels.”

The new courses include a range of degrees and Access to Higher Education courses, and more details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The college has also revealed that for the third year in a row nine out of 10 graduates from the University Centre at Blackburn College are in work or further study within six months.

The figures revealed that in particular the rise in higher education recruitment numbers reflects women aged 24 and over returning to study.

Foundation Studies courses were specifically designed for potential students who did not have either the qualifications or the entry grades for the degree they would like to study.

The inaugural Foundation Studies have been launched after a report identified a major shortage of graduates across Pennine Lancashire.

Currently, fewer than a quarter of adults in Blackburn with Darwen have a degree or other higher education qualification, which is 10 per cent below the national average.