A COLLEGE university centre has condensed its part time courses in a bid to save money for degree level students.

St Mary’s College in Blackburn has announced it has reduced its part time degrees from six years to four in order to help prospective students save money.

The college, off Shear Brow, works in partnership with Liverpool Hope University.

Following the government’s announcement to raise tuition fees to up to £9,000 bosses at the college took action to ensure courses would remain affordable.

Chris Cox, director of HE and Community Provision at St Mary's College, said: “We at St Mary's have recognised that for many the best possibility of employment is to have a degree and previous work experience.

“And this is why, in partnership with Liverpool Hope University, we have created a range of four year part-time degree programmes which allow HE students to study in the evenings as well as working alongside their degree.”