Pearson has unveiled its new UK higher education brand Pearson College.
The move makes the education giant the first FTSE 100 company to directly deliver degree level education.
Pearson College will charge fees of £6,500 a year for BSc (Hons) degrees in Business and Enterprise, taken at its offices in London or Salford Quays. It’ll welcome a small cohort of students this September, to trial its courses before the full launch in the following autumn.
The courses have been developed in conjunction with industry partners BT, Cisco, the Peter Jones Foundation and Atos. They’ll be validated by Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, part of the University of London.
Pearson says the standard entry requirements will be ABB at A-level or equivalent. All candidates will have to undergo an “Oxbridge-style assessment day”.
Pearson College's managing director Roxanne Stockwell told EducationInvestor that, in the medium term, the college hoped to apply for its own degree awarding powers, and to expand into other subject areas. These will include English and creative writing degrees, which will draw on Pearson's publishing expertise.
In the long term the college could expand internationally, too.
"Pearson is uniquely placed to develop and deliver degrees that combine a solid academic foundation with meeting business and employer needs," Stockwell said in a statement.
“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.”