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BPP becomes UK's first private university college in three decades

26 July 2010 | By Corinne McPartland

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BPP College of Professional Studies has been named as the UK’s first new private sector university college for more than 30 years.

The minister of state for universities, science and skills David Willetts announced today that the institution is to become BPP University College with immediate effect.

Willetts said: “It’s healthy to have a vibrant private sector working alongside our more traditional universities. International experience shows a diverse range of higher education providers helps widen access, focuses attention on teaching quality and promotes innovative learning methods, such as web-based distance learning.”

This is the first time a private institution has been awarded the University College title since Buckingham University College – now the University of Buckingham – was created in 1976.

As reported by The Lawyer last year, BPP’s long-term goal of transforming itself into a full-blown university was thrown into jeopardy after its US parent Apollo Group was investigated by the SEC in connection with accounting irregularities (23 November 2009).

BPP became the first privately owned company to receive degree-awarding powers in September 2007 and has since launched an undergraduate law degree that attracted 100 students in its first year.

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Readers' comments (14)

  • IHateBPP | 26-Jul-2010 12:00 pm

    On the same day as BPP made yet another mess of their exam results. Must try a little harder, BPP.

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  • Apollo disliker | 26-Jul-2010 12:22 pm

    Let's hope they don't take the same approach in the UK as they have in the US http://www.neurosoftware.ro/finance/insurance/economy/for-profit-college-funding-will-be-subject-of-senate-hearings-harkin-says/
    How much of the £300 million was for Degree Awarding Powers that BPP had prior to Apollo takeover

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  • Will | 26-Jul-2010 4:14 pm

    Might need to rethink the name - University of BPP sounds a bit naff!

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  • Anonymous | 27-Jul-2010 10:30 am

    "Will | 26-Jul-2010 4:14 pm
    Might need to rethink the name - University of BPP sounds a bit naff!"
    ...Erm...Will...the article, if you bothered to actually read it says clearly that it will be called BPP University College with immediate effect. Try actually reading the article before you comment.

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  • Anonymous | 27-Jul-2010 3:17 pm

    I think the College of Law was actually the first privately owned UK company to receive degree awarding powers not BPP as stated.

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  • Anonymous | 27-Jul-2010 4:19 pm

    college of law all the way!

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  • Hedge Badger | 27-Jul-2010 4:42 pm

    Anonymous | 27-Jul-2010 3:17 pm
    'I think the College of Law was actually the first privately owned UK company to receive degree awarding powers not BPP as stated.'


    The College of Law is not a privately owned company.

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  • Anonymous | 27-Jul-2010 9:50 pm

    College of law all the way if you want lawyers who need to have books in exams - ask them to think on their feet - forget it!

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  • Anonymous | 27-Jul-2010 10:35 pm

    College of Law is actually (believe it or not) a charity not a limited company.

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  • Anonymous | 28-Jul-2010 9:20 am

    "College of law all the way if you want lawyers who need to have books in exams - ask them to think on their feet - forget it!"
    Silly comment. The CoL covers LPC modules in far more depth and requires greater analysis. In Practice you have the books in front of you.
    The BPP LPC does not cover topics in the same depth. Instead it has chosen the fatally flawed path of pointlessly memorising generic points which are soon forgotten.

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