Holy Cross, founded by the Daughters of the Cross, is a Catholic Sixth Form College and University Centre, which exists to provide a high-quality education within a community based on Gospel values. We provide the opportunity for each person to develop spiritually, morally, and intellectually, and we welcome students and staff of all faiths and those of none.
Equality and diversity
We celebrate and promote the diversity of our community. We recognise that some members of our community may require additional help and encouragement in order to gain the most from their educational experience. This support is provided via our dedicated Support Tutor team committed to providing a high-quality experience to all of our learners. Each member of our college community can expect to be valued as an individual. This approach ensures that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances.
Widening participation
Our aim is to promote and provide everyone who can benefit from it, the opportunity to successfully participate in Higher Education. This is vital for social mobility and economic competitiveness, and it is also integral to our ethos. Holy Cross has an outstanding track record in widening participation being a provider of Higher Education for a diverse student body including:
Mature students
Students who are the first in their family/generation to attend Higher Education
Students from low-income backgrounds
Students from areas where participation in Higher Education is low
We aim to make a significant and distinctive contribution to widening participation through a co-ordinated strategy of advice and guidance, targeted support and provision of entry routes, to help those returning to education, or coming from alternative routes into Higher Education.
Welcome to Holy Cross
When Holy Cross expanded into Higher Education, its vision was to become a centre of excellence, providing locally based education for undergraduates. With our partnerships, student numbers at Holy Cross University Centre expanded, becoming a phenomenal success story in the region.
Working in partnership with Liverpool Hope and Edge Hill Universities, we offer a range of part-time and full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses. This is an exciting time to join us, as we continue to develop our provision in a forward-looking and dynamic way that meets the needs of our learners.
Why not become part of our growing community of university students within a friendly, local environment offering outstanding teaching and student support alongside excellent IT and library facilities?
Our courses
BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS (School- Based)
Duration: 4 years, part-time
University: Edge Hill University
Attendance: Two evenings a week
Gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status as you develop the skills, knowledge and professional experience required to inspire children aged 5-11 on a degree that enables you to combine working or volunteering in a primary school with academic study.
Combined BA (Hons) Degree
1 Early Childhood and Education
1 Early Childhood and SEN
1 Education and SEN
Duration: 3 years, full time
Attendance: Maximum two evenings per week 6-9pm, for your two combined subjects, plus independent study through a blended learning approach
University: Liverpool Hope
Early Childhood
The undergraduate programme in Early Childhood Studies provides a higher level of academic study that will extend your knowledge and understanding of children in their early years. We hope to ignite your curiosity as we explore young children’s development and interaction with the world and that in understanding the inequalities that children face locally and globally, you will grow as advocates for young children’s needs and rights.
Education
Studying Education is a dynamic and stimulating opportunity to explore the individual, social, and political forces that shape education, no matter where it is found or how it is delivered. If you are interested in all aspects of how and why we learn, both formally and informally, in the UK or abroad, then studying Education will challenge and excite you in equal measure.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Studying Special Educational Needs (SEN) with Liverpool Hope University will enable you to understand the relationship between disability and education and provide you with the knowledge and confidence to educate others about the nature of disability. SEN incorporates insights from disability studies and education, as well as drawing on work in the arts and humanities, to ensure you gain a broad and balanced understanding of education in a wide range of contexts.
Foundation Degree Early Years Education & Leadership
Duration: 2 years, part-time Attendance: Blended learning approach with a combination of face-to-face and online sessions
This programme has been created for both new-to-role and experienced early years leaders and practitioners. If you work with children aged between birth and five years and are seeking a Higher Education qualification, then this course is for you. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of working and leading in the early years sector, enhancing your employability, and boosting your professional confidence. Equipped with a firm grounding in the theoretical knowledge of being an effective early years practitioner, together with an increased understanding of current practice, you will have additional opportunities to develop as an early years professional following graduation. This includes the option to progress to further study on conversion degrees in either Early Years Education or Early Years Leadership, depending on your preferred career path.
BA (Hons) Early Years Education (top-up) :
Duration: 1 year. Full-time
University: Edge Hill University
Attendance: Blended learning approach with a combination of face-to-face and online sessions
This is a Level 6 conversion programme, giving you the opportunity to progress from a foundation degree (or equivalent) to an honours degree in a relevant subject. The programme is primarily aimed at students progressing from the Foundation Degree Early Years Education and Leadership programme, although progression from other related foundation degrees may be possible. Focusing on the study of early years education frameworks within a range of local, national, and international contexts, you will develop the knowledge and skills required to become an excellent practitioner within your settng and beyond, while also boosting your personal and professional career development.
BA (Hons) Early Years Leadership (top-up)
Duration: 1 year. Full-time
University: Edge Hill University
Attendance: Blended learning approach with a combination of face-to-face and online sessions
This is a Level 6 conversion programme, giving you the opportunity to progress from a foundation degree (or equivalent) to an honours degree in a relevant subject. The programme is primarily aimed at students progressing from the Foundation Degree Early Years Education and Leadership, although progression from other related foundation degrees may be possible. Focusing on the study of leadership and management in early years within a range of local, national and international contexts, you will develop the knowledge and skills required to become an agent of change within your settng and beyond, boosting your personal and professional career development as an early years leader.
MA Education (Special Educational Needs)
Duration: 2 years, part-time
University: Edge Hill University
Attendance: 1 evening a week
The MA Education (Special Educational Needs) has been designed to meet the interests and professional development needs of a range of professionals
who are working with those with special educational needs in education and related settngs, such as health and social care and social services. The programme enables you to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of barriers to learning. You will discover how to deliver inclusive practice for learners with special educational needs, focus on dyscalculia and mathematics learning difficulties, and explore multiple perspectives on educational leadership. You will also engage in meaningful and impactful research and enhance your understanding of the nature of educational enquiry and the analytical processes that support research-informed practice. If you are seeking to develop your practice and gain expertise in the field of special educational needs, then this is the programme for you.
PGCE Primary Education with QTS
Duration: 1 year. Full-time
University: Edge Hill University
Attendance: Evenings and daytime
Our PGCE Primary Education with QTS programme involves academic study at Holy Cross College & University Centre with professional training experiences in our partnership schools and settngs. The PGCE will provide you with a high-quality initial teacher education experience, It will prepare you to teach across the 5-11 age range in key stages 1 and 2. Spending a significant amount of time undertaking professional practice placements in schools and other educational settngs, you will be supported in meeting the Teachers’ Standards, gaining the professional skills, knowledge, understanding and atttudes necessary for a successful two-year induction as an early career teacher.
Working with expert university and school-based colleagues, you will be supported in developing professional subject knowledge for the primary national curriculum. This will include knowledge and understanding of how children learn and develop in each subject and how you can most effectively support that learning and development. You will explore the principles of learning and curriculum design and have the opportunity to engage with research and evidence informed practice.
Studying for your degree
Why study at all?
Many students study to advance their careers, but others simply wish to learn something new or challenge themselves. Many of our students re-discover education later in life, and some decide to re-train for a career change.
Increasingly, younger students are also choosing to study close to home as a more affordable option. Our increasing range of traditional and work-based courses makes earning whilst learning an attractive option.
Whatever the reason, there has never been a better time to study at Holy Cross, with our increasing range of Higher Education courses.
Excellent results
The University Centre was established in 1999 and since then many hundreds of students of all ages and backgrounds have completed their degree programmes, with recent success including around a third achieving a first-class degree and 40% achieving an upper second.
Evening study in Bury
All taught sessions take place here at Holy Cross mainly in the evenings, allowing you to fit study around other work and home commitments.
Some of our courses follow a ‘blended learning’ model where in person teaching is combined with online learning and independent study, enabling students to have more control over the time and pace of their learning.
Why not?
We are looking first and foremost for your potential to succeed; entry qualifications are flexible and are always looked at individually. Alternative entry routes are also available for those with relevant experience who do not meet the entry requirements.
Further questions
If you are interested in studying for a degree at Holy Cross College and have any questions then please contact a Support Tutor at the University Centre on 0161 762 4500.
Potential course changes
We always seek to deliver each course in accordance with the information we provide when you apply to study at the Holy Cross University Centre. However, there may be circumstances in which we need to make changes in relation to our courses and availability each year subject to recruitment.
Partnership Universities Liverpool Hope University
Our first partner shares many features of our ethos and commitment to widening participation to offer accessible Higher Education courses to local communities.
The courses offered by Liverpool Hope focus on academic excellence and strongly support the pastoral needs and aspirations of all students.
Edge Hill University
Holy Cross began its association with Edge Hill in 2008. Since then the partnership has grown from strength to strength. We share a strong commitment to widening participation and have a common interest in providing lifelong learning opportunities. The University is thriving and growing and is recognised regionally and nationally as a vibrant learning community and a centre of excellence in teaching and learning.
In a recent Ofsted inspection (2023) Edge Hill was graded ‘outstanding’ across all three teacher training age phases. The inspection recognised the outstanding quality of our Primary Initial Teacher Education programmes delivered at Holy Cross.
Support for learning
From the first point of contact, through to graduation and beyond, the University Centre team will support you every step of the way.
Support tutors
Students with additional needs
Every student is allocated a Higher Education Support Tutor, who would be your first point of contact for any queries you may have.
Our Support Tutors are renowned for providing a high level of personalised and individual student support. We know that many of our students have been out of formal education for a while and need to rebuild their academic confidence, so they value high quality, proactive pastoral support. All of our Support Tutors are postgraduate qualified, trained teachers and are experienced in providing you with help and support throughout your learning journey.
Study skills
We offer study skills sessions to new students before they start their chosen degree at Holy Cross as well as providing HE study skills support for on-course students, at each level of study. The pre-course sessions are particularly popular, providing a much-needed confidence boost for people who might have been out of education for some time.
As part of our commitment to providing a fully inclusive learning environment, we actively encourage applicants to disclose any additional needs early in the admissions process, at initial advice appointments and on the UCAS application.
If potential students require admissions information to be presented in a different format, they can contact the University Centre in advance.
If any applicants indicate a disability or additional support requirement they will be given information about Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) and will also be asked permission for referral for further advice to the appropriate university.
If you think you have a learning difficulty that has not been identified yet, our Support Tutors will help to guide you through the process to identify your individual needs and any potential barriers to your learning, ensuring that the appropriate help is available to you.
Course fees and funding
Tuition fee loans
Studying may prove to be a more affordable option than you think. Students can obtain financial help with paying their tuition fees. Student loans are available to cover the cost of tuition fees for up to four years of study.
Applying for tuition fee loans
Tuition Fee loans are provided by Student Finance England (SFE) and applications for loans are made by students direct to SFE. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university when students have officially enroled on their chosen course.
Repayment of fees
If you get a loan to cover your tuition fees you do not have to pay anything until you start earning above the threshold. Information on eligibility for funding and the funding application process can be found by searching Student Finance England.
Maintenance loans and additional support
New full-time students can apply for means-tested maintenance loans if they are living at home or studying away from home. Full time students who have young children, or who have adults who depend on them can apply for grants to help pay towards extra costs.
Full-time and part-time students with disabilities and additional learning needs can apply for funding of resources and support via Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
CASE STUDY – Amanda
Subjects studied: BA Hons Early Childhood and Education
When I started my journey at Holy Cross University Centre, I had already been working in education for 6 years. I always knew I wanted to be a secondary school teacher but not had the opportunity to go to university when I left college.
My time at Holy Cross was fabulous, the support I received from staff enabled me to commit to a full-time degree whilst working full time. Louise, my support tutor, guided me throughout my time at the University Centre, her belief in me provided me with encouragement and strength.
I enjoyed every moment of my studies and found the teaching to be informative and engaging.
The course also provided opportunities to make lifelong friends and form professional working relationships. Receiving news that I had obtained a 2:1 was one of my proudest achievements, and Graduation was a special day for me and my family, it’s a day I will never forget.
Studying at Holy Cross has been life changing as well as opening doors I never believed could be opened Thank you to all the staff at Holy Cross University Centre for giving me the opportunity to enhance my career and reach my goals.
Amanda has continued her studies at Holy Cross, progressing onto an MA Education (Special Educational Needs)
How to apply
Initial advice appointments
When we receive your course enquiry, we will invite you in for an informal discussion; an Initial Advice appointment which will take place with one of our experienced Support Tutors. You will receive all the information you need regarding studying at Holy Cross University Centre, how to apply, and available fees and funding. Support tutors will also look at your existing qualifications, discuss entry requirements for your chosen course and advise on a suitable alternative pathway if relevant.
Full-time courses
For full-time courses, applications are made online through UCAS (University and College Admissions Service) which forwards your application to the university associated with your course. Support Tutors will advise you on how to make an application via UCAS.
Part-time courses
For our part-time courses, your Support Tutor will advise on the best way to apply.
Entry requirements
We understand that many of our applicants have non-traditional qualifications and that they may have other skills that are transferable to degree level study. We actively seek and welcome applicants with a variety of qualifications and experience.
For these reasons, it is important that all potential applicants come into Holy Cross University Centre for an Initial Advice appointment, so that we can spend time discussing specific circumstances and course entry requirements in more detail.
Subjects studied: BA Hons Education and SEN
My 16-year-old self would never have imagined that at age 50, I would graduate from University with a ‘first-class’ honours degree.
Having struggled with literacy skills throughout my time in compulsory education and deeming myself as ‘non-academic’, my 16-year-old self would never have imagined that at age 50, I would graduate from University with a ‘first-class’ honours degree, achieve 92% in my dissertation and be recognised as ‘the best-performing student in SEN’ during 2022/23.
Following the birth of my children in 2010. I embarked upon this new chapter, being filled with mixed emotions, eager to learn but at the same time feeling apprehensive and questioning my worth. Was I intelligent enough? Would I understand? Can I write an essay? After meeting Roshan, I was discovered
to have a specific learning disability with my working memory. Learning about my differences made me feel liberated, as all I needed was extra time, and I was provided with a learning support plan. This extra support helped me flourish as I achieved A grades across both disciplines throughout my second year.
Completing this degree taught me to view disability through the social model, recognise and value diversity and develop a passion for promoting inclusion. I firmly believe that every human being, regardless of age or ability, should be able to be themselves and have the freedom and choice of functioning (being and doing) that are valuable to them regardless of their change to the environment, whether in education, the workplace, the wider community or within the home.
Alice Jane has continued her studies as a postgraduate student at Salford University and enroled on the accelerated Master of Science programme in occupational therapy.
CASE STUDY – Alice Jane
Useful information
Our opening times
The University Centre is open throughout the year except the week between Christmas and New Year. Please be aware that some services (Refectory, Coffee Shop, Library) may be limited over college half-terms, Christmas, Easter and bank holidays. Please check Holy Cross College term dates.
The usual opening hours are:
1 Monday 8.30am – 4.30pm
1 Tuesday to Thursday 8.30am – 8.30pm
1 Friday 8.30am – 4.00pm
Library and IT facilities
As a Holy Cross student, you will have full access to our Library and IT facilities.
Career support
Each of our partner universities provide an excellent careers service. You will have access to a wide range of resources and opportunities for you to explore and plan your next steps towards achieving your career goals and aspirations – this could include searching for jobs, joining webinars, preparing for interviews, honing your application and CV writing skills, and much more.
CASE STUDY – Carla
Subjects studied: BA Hons Education and Special Educational Needs
I have always wanted to be a graduate. Until now, there was always something standing in my way.
A big part of this was self-belief and I considered it a pipe dream.
After 15+ years in school/community work part-time to enable me to care for my young family, I had applied for and was about to interview for a full-time position working for a more prestigious service. I began to question my next steps and thought that instead of the new job, this would be the perfect opportunity, as the children were getting older, to apply for that degree I had always wanted. The timescale meant that I could graduate before I was 40!
I walked through the door of the University Centre to meet Anne-Marie, little did I know at this point how much I would come to depend on her and what an important part of my journey she would become.
As a high school student, I was easily distracted, scraping by with good passes took a lot of work. So, when I received the grade for my first piece of work with such encouraging feedback, I sat in the car and cried! I felt like I had unlocked a passion inside me which was about to take me down a pathway which I never thought possible!
Do not get me wrong, it was not all plain sailing. Particularly as years 2 and 3 were interrupted by the Covid 19 pandemic. Throughout this time, I had serious doubts.
Juggling study, caring for my family, home schooling, heightened anxiety and still studying. The person who pushed me through the doubts was Anne-Marie. Always at the end of the phone or scheduling a Zoom, listening to my moans, tears and celebrating each win. Tutors became more flexible and really wanted us to continue and do well. The all-around support was outstanding.
The tutors were fabulous, and the course content is in line with my own interests. My dissertation was focused on the impact of transition periods for disabled students, a project that I wish to continue.
September 2021, I received notification that I had achieved a BA Hons Education and Special Educational Needs 2:1 - 8 weeks before my 40th birthday! I could not believe that I had done it.
On successful completion of the degree, I was able to apply for a position at a higher level. I am currently employed in the SEND department of a local high school; my responsibilities include day to day management of the Teaching Assistant Team, planning and delivering interventions, liaising with other agencies in Bury, action planning, EHCP reviews, delivery of training and transition support.
This has been the most amazing experience of my life. I have made lifelong friends from all ages and backgrounds.
Carla has been working in her new role for 5 months now and is currently completing assessments for a Diploma in Trauma Informed Practices; a course delivered by TISUK and accredited by the Institute for Arts and Therapy in Education.
