New degree courses for Spurgeon's College 

Spurgeon’s College has announced new degree courses as it responds to the educational needs of the Borough of Croydon

The three new joint honours degree programmes, across six new subject areas, will be delivered at the college's campus in Croydon from September 2021.

They are:

• Business Management and Marketing BA (Hons)
• International Relations and Social Policy BA (Hons)
• Media & Communication and Creative Writing BA (Hons)

Spurgeon's, the largest of the Baptist theological colleges, is partnering with Liverpool Hope University’s ‘Network of Hope’ to deliver the new degree courses. The ‘Network of Hope’ aims to support colleges deliver flexible, higher education courses to communities which would otherwise not have such a provision.

Last year the college also added two new Masters programmes - the Masters in Digital Theology Degree and the Masters of Ministry Degree. The college’s study options already include undergraduate courses in Theology, Ministerial training and gold standard Counselling courses.

The new courses and subsequent growth in its educational offer 'marks an important step in the college’s plans to become the first home-grown university in Croydon' and 'offer higher education opportunities to more people within the borough,' noted the press release announcing the news. 

It currently has around 600 students enrolled, and the new courses open up opportunities for 'hundreds more' students. 'The college’s new and existing portfolio of courses responds to the educational needs and wants of the Borough of Croydon, with Spurgeon’s graduates going on to make valuable contributions as community leaders or mental health and wellbeing professionals within the local area,' continued the announcement.

Principal of Spurgeon’s College, the Revd Professor Philip McCormack said, 'We are delighted to have partnered with Liverpool Hope University’s ‘Network of Hope’, to deliver these three new degree courses from Spurgeon’s College. The expansion of this educational offer means that we are able to offer more courses to more students within the Borough of Croydon, taking us closer to realising our ambition of becoming the first-home grown university in Croydon.

'As a deeply embedded member of the Croydon community, I am so proud of the role our college has played in supporting the provision of higher education within the local area for nearly 100 years, particularly in supporting underrepresented groups. I am excited for our college to continue to develop our educational offer and expand the support we provide to our local community.'

Professor Gerald Pillay, Vice Chancellor of Liverpool Hope University said, 'We are so pleased to have partnered with Spurgeon’s College, through our ‘Network of Hope’ to help support the provision of higher education with Croydon.

'This partnership with Spurgeon’s College is the first Network of Hope partnership outside of the North West and represents a significant step in the growth of the network and of Spurgeon’s College’s educational offer. We are proud to be able to support the college’s ambitious plans to become the first home-grown university in Croydon.'

The news was welcomed by several local politicians, with member of Parliament for Croydon North and Shadow Communities Secretary, Steve Reed MP describing it as 'exciting news'. 

'Education has the power to transform lives and I am so pleased that more of these important opportunities are becoming available in our local area thorough the expansion of Spurgeon’s College’s degree courses. Further, student populations make a valuable contribution to local economies, and we are pleased that the increase in student numbers at the college will help to support this.

'The college has been a valued member of our community for nearly 100 years, providing higher education provision within the borough and producing highly trained graduates who then go on to support our local area.'

Leader of Croydon Council, Cllr Hamida Ali said it 'represents an exciting opportunity for our community to take advantage of expanding educational opportunities available within the local area.'

She added, 'The flexible way that the college delivers their courses, on weekends, weekdays and evenings, means that the transformative power of education and the opportunities it can bring for both individuals and the local community, are accessible to more people within our borough.'

Local ward councillor, Cllr Karen Jewitt said, 'I have been working closely with Spurgeon’s College, particularly over the course of the pandemic, to help support our local community through the lunch and social club for elders that we host on the college’s site.

'Through this work, I have become aware of the important social and community benefits that the college brings to the local area. I am so pleased that the college is expanding its educational offer and in turn expanding these benefits.'