University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is an educational institution located in the English county of Suffolk. UCS is a collaboration between the University of Essex and the University of East Anglia which sponsor its formation and validate its degrees. UCS accepted its first students in September 2007. Until then Suffolk was one of only four counties in England which did not have a University campus. UCS operates at six sites with its central hub in Ipswich. Other sites are centred on pre-existing Higher Education centres in Ipswich, Lowestoft, Bury St. Edmunds, and Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. UCS operates two academic faculties and in 2014 had around 5,200 students. Some 30% of the student body are classed as mature students and 68% of UCS students are female. History In 2003, Suffolk County Council established a "stakeholder group" made up of representatives from the University of East Anglia, the University of Essex, Suffolk College, the East of England Development Agency, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Suffolk Learning and Skills Council, Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk Chief Executive's Group and the Suffolk Development Agency. The aim of the group was to investigate the possibility of establishing a university in the county. Following funding pledges from Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council in 2004, UCS was backed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) with £15m worth of funding in 2005 and attracted a £12.5m grant from the East of England Development Agency in 2006 UCS was officially launched on 1 August 2007 and welcomed its first students in September of the same year. Faculties University Campus Suffolk's teaching is split into two faculties: Arts, Business and Applied Social Sciences; and Health and Science. The faculties work across the UCS network with degrees validated by the University of Essex and the University of East Anglia. Sites UCS Ipswich Based around the Ipswich waterfront redevelopment, UCS Ipswich is the main hub of the network. It was developed from the former Higher Education section of Suffolk College. The Waterfront building, designed by RMJM Architects, is the centre of the hub, opening in September 2008 and costing £35 million. It has three lecture theatres, and 34 smaller teaching rooms. The six-storey James Hehir Building was officially opened in March 2011 at a cost of £21 million It is named after the former chief executive of Ipswich Borough Council and includes Cult Cafe. Part of the old Suffolk College site, now known as "Campus North", was redeveloped at a cost of £2.5 million. This houses the small UCS Ipswich library facility or "Learning Resource Centre". Onsite student accommodation is provided in the 600-place Athena Hall, located adjacent to the James Hehir building. A range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered at UCS Ipswich, including Art and Design, Business and Management, Computing, Education, Film and Media Studies, Health, Nursing and Midwifery, Humanities, Social Sciences and Initial Teacher Training. UCS at Suffolk New College Suffolk New College is located next to the UCS Ipswich campus and was developed from the Further Education centre of Suffolk College. It is a centre for civil engineering degrees and initial teacher training. UCS Bury St Edmunds The Bury St Edmunds Centre is located at the site of West Suffolk College. A range of foundation degrees in subjects including Art, Engineering and Logistics and Transport and Management are taught at the site as well as degrees in Business Management, Education, English and History, CIOB accredited Construction Management and initial teacher training. Over 700 students follow degree and foundation degree courses at the site. The site, which was remodelled in 2011, has an industry-standard recording studio. UCS Lowestoft The Lowestoft Centre is located at the site of Lowestoft College. UCS Lowestoft offers degrees in Children's Care, Learning and Development, Design, Inclusive Practice and Integrated Working, Operations Engineering, Supporting Inclusive Learning and Practice, and Social Science. UCS Great Yarmouth UCS Great Yarmouth is located at the Southtown site of Great Yarmouth College in neighbouring Norfolk. Subjects such as Computing, Counselling, Engineering, Fashion, Music, and Photography are available at the centre, which has a modern recording studio. LEAP UCS is the lead partner on the LEAP (Learning and Enterprise Access Points) project. The LEAPs are education and training points located in market towns across Suffolk. The aim of the LEAPs is to provide access to a range of education opportunities from basic skills to Higher Education. UCS developed LEAPs around Suffolk by working with the local government and the East of England Development Agency.