University Campus Suffolk (UCS) has been granted the power to award its own degrees, a move that sees it edge closer to becoming an independent university.
The Taught Degree Awarding Powers, granted by the Privy Council with immediate effect, mean the institution will be able to award its own undergraduate and taught postgraduate degrees and apply for University Title.
Until now, the institution’s degrees have been jointly validated by the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex.
UCS said it intends to hold its degree powers in reserve until it secures University Title, which will enable full independence from its two partner institutions. It added that the timescale for this final stage of independence is yet to be determined, but it is thought the earliest this could be in place is September 2016.
UCS began the process of gaining its own degree-awarding powers in March 2013.
Richard Lister, provost and chief executive of UCS, said: “I am very pleased we have received confirmation from the Privy Council that UCS Ipswich has been granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers with immediate effect. We have achieved this much more quickly than anyone had anticipated and it is a huge step towards our full independence.”