June 11, 2012 2.45 pm This story is over 141 months old

Bishop Grosseteste to apply for university title

Rule change: The university college set to apply to change its name to Bishop Grosseteste University.

Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln is set to apply to change its name to Bishop Grosseteste University.

This comes after the government on Monday announced plans to reduce the number of students required for an institution to use the university title from 4,000 to 1,000.

BG Principal Professor Muriel Robinson said the current system puts the institution at a disadvantage because not many prospective students know what a university college is.

Professor Muriel Robinson, Principal of Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln

“We welcome today’s announcement that university colleges such as BG will soon be able to apply for permission to use the title university,” said Professor Robinson.

“The current rules say that only institutions with 4,000 or more students may use the title university, but now that minimum number is to be reduced to 1,000.

“We meet the other criteria, which relate to having the power to award our own degrees and to having secure governance arrangements, and are confident that our application will be successful.

“This is good news for Bishop Grosseteste University College, which has around 2,000 students, since the current system puts us at a disadvantage.

“There is confusion among prospective students and employers about what a university college is. We have 150 years of history, we enjoy an excellent reputation and we have awarded our own degrees since 2004, but the ‘university college’ title has been a brake on our ability to recruit students and secure the recognition our work deserves.

“Following today’s announcement, and after consultation with our neighbours and partners, we will make an application to the Privy Council to change our name to Bishop Grosseteste University.”

Professor Muriel Robinson is set to retire in April 2013 following nine years in the job, and the Board of Governors has started looking for a suitable replacement.