Pearson, the world's leading learning company and owner of Penguin and the Financial Times, is launching a higher education college - becoming the first FTSE 100 company to directly deliver degrees in the UK.
The college is seeking to recruit the brightest and most entrepreneurial students and equip them with the knowledge and skills employers seek.
The college has worked with a range of businesses to design a unique style of business degree. The Pearson Business and Enterprise degree course will focus on preparing students for the world of business and has been developed in conjunction with BT, Cisco, the Peter Jones Foundation and Atos. Students will graduate with a BSc (Hons) degree validated by Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, part of the University of London. Students will study in a corporate environment at Pearson's offices in London or Manchester and also take part in a residential at Royal Holloway's campus. The degree includes a guaranteed internship programme and a company-based mentor for every student.
Pearson College is currently recruiting a small cohort of pioneers to start in September, ready for the main launch in September 2013. Applicants will undergo an Oxbridge style assessment day which includes an interview and aptitude test. While standard entry requirements are ABB at A-Level (or equivalent), the college is using the assessment day to consider students' with potential, looking at their ability and motivation, and not just their previous academic success.
Tuition fees are set at £6,500 a year and students will be able, subject to designation by Student Finance England, claim a fee loan via the Student Loans Company. Pearson is also offering ‘Performance Scholarships’ to cover the course fees for the very brightest.
The Pearson Business degree is flexible and students have the choice of three routes, enabling them to choose the one that best fits their lifestyle. The traditional three year mode follows the same yearly pattern as traditional universities; alternatively students can choose to accelerate over the summer and complete in only two years; and finally students can combine work and study and complete in only four years.
Roxanne Stockwell managing Director of Pearson College, said:
"Given its academic publishing heritage and over 150 years of commercial experience, , Pearson is uniquely placed to develop and deliver degrees that combine a solid academic foundation with meeting business and employer needs.
"Our degrees are designed by business, delivered with business, for students who are serious about succeeding in business.
"We have a network of blue chip industry relationships, many of whom are working with us on the design and delivery of our degree programmes. This gives us an inherent understanding of the modern business environment and employer needs. Our degrees will therefore embed professional work experience, business skills and etiquette, with significant and relevant input from our industry partners."
