Students, staff and partners gathered this week to celebrate achievement and excellence at the University Centre Weston (UCW) Awards 2026, marking both an outstanding year of success and ten years of higher education at UCW. The annual awards recognised exceptional academic performance, personal resilience and outstanding contributions to the UCW community, alongside national accolades achieved by UCW students over the past year. …
Our Criminology and Public Services learners recently gained insight from one of their own, as former student Jemma returned to discuss her time in the prison service! Jemma works as a prison custody officer (PCO) at HMP Ashfield. During the guest lecture, Jemma discussed progression within prisons, as well as praising the pay progression that she has seen during her time as a PCO. …
Our BSc Criminology and Public Services students recently had an eye-opening visit to Shepton Mallet Prison, one of the UK’s oldest and most historic prisons. Established in 1625, this prison was one of the oldest operating prisons in the country until its closure in March 2013. Now preserved as a heritage site, it offers a unique glimpse into centuries of penal history, something students experienced first-hand during their visit. Students explored the history …
UCW Criminology and Public Services learners, alongside Weston College students had a guest lecture from Tony Jay, a former Detective Sergeant for Gloucestershire Constabulary. Tony was a central figure in the Fred and Rose West case, one of the most infamous serial killer cases in the world. Tony gave an in-depth look at the history of Fred and Rose West before the case started, before covering each element of the case in strong …
Our Criminology and Public Services students recently took part in two interesting guest lectures with the Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody, as well as Greta – an expert in Radical Criminology. The guest lecture with Clare Moody covered a wide range of key police issues. During her visit, Clare outlined the priorities set out in the …
Last week our Criminology and Public Services had the exciting opportunity to visit Bristol Crown Court. Students in the class sat in on a murder trial, a hugely important part of the UK’s justice system. The trip helped to solidify class discussions about important topic, including due process and the adversarial system. By seeing this process in action first-hand, the students …
University Centre Weston (UCW) held its 2025 graduation ceremony on Saturday the 20th of September. Students, staff, friends and family all came together to celebrate everyone’s hard work and achievements! After getting into their robes and donning their caps, graduands lined up for a procession through the Italian Gardens to the Winter Gardens Ballroom. Here they heard speeches from our …
Emma-Louise Harraway is in the final year of her Public Services degree and was shortlisted for Business and Professional Student of the Year. Her time at University Centre Weston has been defined by resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth. Since starting her degree, Emma-Louise has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, overcoming significant personal challenges along the …
UCW welcomed Laura Aiken, founder of Thrive Leadership, to deliver an insightful and engaging talk on managing stress and developing resilience in the workplace. Learners from Criminology and Public Services were invited to attend the session, which focused on how individuals can strengthen their ability to cope during times of change, such as starting a new role or adapting to shifts …
Today we’re catching up with Criminology and Public Services learner Folu to hear about his time at UCW and how he’s got on this year! The highlight of Folu’s time at UCW has been meeting new people and participating in the activities offered by the HEART Team, such as the cooking session. This has helped to build his confidence and …
The results are in, and UCW has received brilliant feedback in the National Student Survey for 2025! UCW is now above the national average in all nine areas of the survey! This is a reflection of the incredible amount of work put in by our academic and support staff. UCW’s academic support continues to stand out as a key highlight …
We’re celebrating Criminology and Public Services student Louise! We caught up with her to see how her time at UCW is going. The highlight of Louise’s experience at UCW has been attending inspiring lectures and developing her academic skills. Louise’s journey comes with a unique twist. She is pursuing her degree alongside her daughter! She even jokingly refers to her …
At University Centre Weston, we pride ourselves on offering flexible and career-enhancing courses, and Donika is a great example of how our short courses can support ambitious learners. Passionate about health and well-being, Donika chose to study the Fitness and Nutrition course to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in the industry. “I worked in health …
We’re highlighting Criminology and Public Services student Giuseppe and his time at UCW so far! From spending time with peers to having fun while learning, he has enjoyed his first two years. When Giuseppe first applied for UCW he struggled with the processes for the student loan. The finance team patiently supported him with completing this by helping at …
Our Nutrition course recently had two exciting lab sessions! We spoke to course lecturer Morgan to hear all about how these sessions went. Students did one session where they simulated the intestine digesting food. They did this by adding chemicals to the simulated intestine, placing it in a water bath to simulate the body temperature, then taking samples at different …
Criminology and Public Services learners were recently given a unique insight into careers within the prison service, thanks to a talk delivered by Jemma, a former UCW learner who has successfully transitioned into the field. Students had the opportunity to hear first-hand about Jemma’s journey from studying at UCW to working as a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) at HMP …
Our Criminology and Public Services students recently took on New York in collaboration with the brilliant management of Hannah and the Business and Travel team at Weston College! We spoke to course lecturer Anna to get all the details about this exciting experience. “The itinerary was packed, topical, and required a good set of walking shoes; students and staff averaged …
UCW is very proud to launch our brand-new prospectus for 2026! Our prospectus is the best place to find out about our courses, with sections for all of our subject areas including Art, Media and Design, Business and Professional Services, Computing and Digital Technologies, Counselling and Healthcare, Education, Inclusive Practice and Criminology, Engineering and Construction, Performance and Production Arts and …
Criminology and Public Services students were fascinated in a guest lecture by Tony Jay. Tony was a detective in Gloucestershire Constabulary during the investigation of the Fred and Rose West case. Tony gave a detailed account of the case, along with the specialist techniques that were used to catch and convict the killers. These included criminal profiling, as well …
Today we’re introducing one of our accomplished UCW Alumni, Tiff! Since graduating from her public services degree, she has worked as a Special Constable for Avon and Somerset Police as well as a Community Partnership Advisor for Avon Fire and Rescue Service. This year she took on a new role as an Operational Policing Lecturer at South Wales University. In …
UCW is proud to expand its range of Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), providing a dynamic and practical educational pathway for students eager to gain valuable skills and secure well-paid jobs in key technical sectors. Designed in partnership with employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), UCW’s HTQs align with industry standards and modern workplace …
Oscar embodies excellence both on and off the football pitch, making him a standout choice for Weston College’s Sports Academy Student of the Year. As a pivotal member of the football academy, Oscar has not only represented but also captained the under-18s and 19s teams with flair and dedication. His prowess on the field recently earned him a call-up to …
Students from the BA Hons Uniformed & Public Services programme embarked on an eye-opening journey through history during a recent visit to Shepton Mallet Prison, nicknamed the ‘Mallet’. The students delved into the depths of this infamous correctional facility, learning secrets as they went. Throughout the day, the students were told about the mysteries behind prison terminology, discovering the origins …
Meet Public Services student Elizabeth! She is in her third year here at UCW; we caught up with her to see how she got on. Elizabeth said that UCW has helped her to focus in a number of areas. “There are a lot of areas within UCW itself to help with research and extra information, having an online library …
Folu is a first-year student on the BA Uniformed and Public Services course. We sat down and spoke with Folu about how his course is going, and how he has found making the move to Weston from a different area. Folu has seen personal growth since starting at UCW. He was quite nervous before moving to Weston from Northamptonshire around …
We are very pleased to announce that we have launched four brand new FREE short courses for individuals in employment! These fantastic short courses give you a taste of what a full degree is like for those that are unsure if higher education is for them – they can also be used as part of your continued professional development. …
In an exhilarating day of outdoor exploration, Year 1 students at UCW went on a thrilling adventure at Mendip Activity Centre. Braving the crisp cold morning, the students hit the water for a kayaking session on the picturesque River Yeo, setting the stage for an unforgettable day of learning and fun. The event was part of the students’ preparation for …
In a gripping session, former detective for Gloucestershire Constabulary Tony Jay captivated BA Hons Uniformed and Public Services students with his firsthand account of the notorious Fred and Rose West serial killer case. Tony shared insights into the investigation, shedding light on the complexities of criminal profiling and forensic science. The students, engaged and intrigued, had the unique opportunity to …
BA (Hons) Uniformed and Public Services Year 1 enjoyed an organised group trip to the Mendip Outdoor Activity Centre, where they were tasked with “Mission Impossible” activities to work as a group and problem solve challenges which developed their communication, teamwork and leadership skills. These activities supported their modules on ” Personal Resilience”, “Planning and Leading Outdoor Activities” and “Understanding …
Last week Years 1 and 2 from our Uniformed and Public Services (BA) Hons degree course joined local Magistrate Mike Evans at North Somerset Magistrates Court in Weston-super-Mare for an insight into the workings of a court. The students were introduced to the workings of a Magistrates court, the type of offences, penalties and support in place. A brief talk …
Uniformed and Public Services degree students and Access to HE students were recently lucky enough to have a guest session from former Detective Inspector Tony Jay. Tony gave the students a detailed account of his first-hand experiences of dealing with the events that took place at the notorious address of 25 Cromwell St, Gloucester, otherwise known as The Fred and …
Are you interested in pursuing a degree in the uniformed and public services? At UCW we celebrate that the diverse range of career opportunities in this field are incredibly vast and ever-growing. Emergency Services, Health and Safety and Social Services, just to name a few, are examples of the extremely rewarding and fulfilling occupations our BA (Hons) Uniformed and Public …
With the summer holidays well underway, students with offers from universities are eagerly awaiting those all important college exam results. The question we always get over the summer break though is… “Is it too late to apply”?! To that we say: Not at all! We can consider applications throughout the summer for most of our courses through the process called …
Weston College is the sole FE provider to be handed a contract for the Higher Education Short Course trial, with the remaining 20 places taken by universities. Twenty-two universities and colleges have been awarded a total of £2 million of funding to develop short courses in higher education. These courses are designed to enable flexible learning and to help students …
