University centre
The University Centre Truro & Penwith is key to the future of higher education in Cornwall. With our continued, sector-led course developments, Truro's South West Institute of Technology Valency building and the STEM and Health Skills Centre in Bodmin, the College’s 19+ provision is moving forward into a new era, emphasised by our latest project; Cornwall Space and Aerospace Technology Training (CSATT).
welcome to the university centre truro & Penwith
Truro College opened in 1993 and in 2008 merged with Penwith College to become Truro and Penwith College (T&PC). Our initial partnership with the University of Exeter led to ten University courses by 1999.
A new partnership with University of Plymouth developed and now the College has over 40 university courses and teacher training with Pearson, the University of Plymouth and the University of Greenwich, including higher apprenticeships, foundation degrees, degree ‘honours progression’ course, teacher training graduate and postgraduate programmes.
In the last 15 years the college’s university level courses have been reviewed three times by the Quality Assurance agency (responsible for Higher Education quality) often with commendations on good practice. The University of Plymouth review our university approved programmes every year, with a full review of the college every five years, again with many commendations.
In 2016/17 the college was awarded the Gold standard on a national measure of higher education quality, the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF). As important, our students consider us to be doing a good job with levels of student satisfaction above national and benchmark satisfaction levels recorded on the National Student Survey in the last four years.
The majority of our students are Cornwall based and we have an exciting mix of school and college leavers and mature learners (ranging from 21 to 60 plus).
Our ethos is to provide higher skilled employment for the people of Cornwall and so we have entry grades that allow mature students and retraining adults the opportunity to progress to higher education.
university centre highlights
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purpose-built facilities
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qualified teachers
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student bursaries
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university accredited
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easy access
flexibility
employability
support
Truro and Penwith College has a strong record of putting the student first and I am confident that our Higher Education programmes support our University students in the same manner as our provision does for Further Education students.
Andrew Smart - Programme Team Leader
how we manage courses to help students
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There are many reasons why students choose to study with us. We strive to be high quality, friendly and student focused and our staff recognise that their job is to teach and support students so that they can graduate and move into a successful career.
Our courses are all approved by the University of Plymouth, University of Greenwich or by Pearson, the national provider of HNC and HND qualifications.
Some key reasons our students choose to study with us:
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Our courses are delivered over three terms that try to align with the school and college terms as much as possible, with three reading weeks that coincide with half-terms in Cornwall.
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We try to compress our timetable into two, or in some cases three, days a week. This means that the typical day is quite intense but also provides the opportunity for students to work outside of lectures to help support their grant funding.
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Our courses are built around focused delivery to smaller groups. This means easy access to staff, all staff know your name, are aware of who you are and how you are getting on. It also means lots of discussions, practicals, trips and group research.
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We have a support system that helps our learners apply for Disabled Student Allowance and we work with students with individual needs to do our best to support them through their programme of study. We also have study skills support and regular weekly tutorial slots to help the development of the wider skills that employers look for in a graduate.
Additional information
travel
how to apply
student finance
policies & OFS registration
our stories
Lewis – FdSc Law with Criminology
Abdul – BA (Hons) Human Behavioural Studies
Jess – BA (Hons) Education and Training
Amy – BA (Hons) Education and Training
frequently asked questions
For most students their course will be over two days, though some have a three-day programme of study.
Days normally start at 9.15 and end at 4.15. There may be time when you don’t have a timetabled lecture to help you use the library and carry out research for your assessments.
The University Centre has a break in the timetable that allows you to get some lunch, either in the Fal dining area or at Spires, where the menu is created by our catering students.
During the week you’ll be expected to undertake reading and assessment work and you should try to make time for at least 12 to 15 hours of study in evenings, weekends or days that aren’t timetabled with lessons.
Tuition fees are reviewed each year and any increases will be in line with UK government policy.
Costs vary depending on the course you are on. Additional costs may need to be considered depending on your course, such as; travel to placements, the cost of materials you might choose to use, if you choose to purchase your own personal equipment or the cost of any optional study trips.
Full time fees range from £6,165 p/a to £9,250 p/a
Part time fees range from £4,112 p/a - £4625 p/a
Car parking is very limited and has become more of a challenges since covid because fewer people are car-sharing. Many students drive to the Truro Park and Ride and then catch the bus to the University Centre.
Students are able to apply for car parking and make a case that explains their need to use the campus car parks but the spaces available for students are unfortunately oversubscribed.
Students returning to their studies generally find the first term a challenge but soon settle in and realise that as long as they put the extra time in to support the contact time, they soon get back to your studies.
If you have any concerns before starting you can come in and meet other students returning to study before the start of term and work together supporting each other through the year. We have a specific event for learners returning to study and then follow up with them through the year to check things are going well.
Yes, many University Centre students continue to have part-time employment while they study, but do be careful not to over commit. You need to be able to ring-fence at least 12 to 15 hours a week to support the time you spend in lectures with research and assignment activity.
Every student at the University Centre has access to a bursary which normally has a payment at the end of the first term and then in the second and third term. If you find yourself in difficulty you can also apply for a hardship loan that can be used to help at difficult times, for example, to tide you over until your maintenance grant is paid.
