A Black Country college has expanded its portfolio of courses by launching a series of degrees for the first time in its history.
Walsall College has teamed up with Birmingham City University to offer the degree-level, making it one of the first further education colleges in the region to offer degree courses.
Three one-year top-up degrees are being launched from September in fashion design, visual communication - graphic communication and visual communication - photography with further top-up degrees currently being investigated.
Henriette Harnisch, vice-principal for business and partnerships, said: "Everybody is really pleased to be working in partnership with Birmingham City University.
"From September, students will be able to study in our world-class learning environment and progress from a number of our HNC programmes all the way through to degree level."
Principal and chief executive Jatinder Sharma added: "Our qualifications are all about preparing people for the real world.
"We know what employers want from our graduates and we use our close links with industry to make sure that's precisely what we give them.
"With the cost of university still on the rise, studying locally has never looked so attractive and we expect our small classes and personalised tuition to really appeal to students of all ages."
Professor Derek Cassidy, associate dean within Birmingham City University's faculty for arts, design and media, said: "We are delighted to be collaborating with Walsall College as it's the university's intention to forge strong partnerships with educational providers within the region and to be supporting students to enable them to raise their aspirations and maximise their potential."
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