The University of Plymouth Colleges (UPC) network is a partnership between the University of Plymouth

University of Plymouth

Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...

 and local colleges to deliver a range of higher education

Higher education

Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...

 courses in Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

, Cornwall

Cornwall

Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...

, Devon

Devon

Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...

, Dorset

Dorset

Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...

 and Somerset

Somerset

The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...

, as well as the Channel Islands

Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...

. The network began in 1989 with the Polytechnic South West. The polytechnic entered into partnership agreements with local FE colleges in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset to extend the provision of HE opportunities. The initial intake was 450 students. By 1992, the polytechnic had become the University of Plymouth,
and the network was devised as the UPC in 2003.
In 2004, the UPC was launched as a faculty within the university with its own Dean,
and by 2007, student numbers had reached 9,500 students.. The current Dean is Dr Colin Williams.

In Bristol, UPC includes the City of Bristol College

City of Bristol College

City of Bristol College is one of the largest further education colleges in the UK. Based in Bristol, the College continues to gain national recognition for its work with adults, young people and employers.- Awards :* LSIS Beacon status...

. In Cornwall, it includes Cornwall College

Cornwall College

Cornwall College is a further education college situated on various sites throughout Cornwall with its main centre in St Austell. The college is a member of the 157 Group of high performing schools...

, Truro College

Truro College

Truro College is a tertiary institution located in Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. Following an exchange of governing bodies, Truro College merged with Penwith College in April 2008—the combined institution is known as Truro and Penwith College, though the sites retain their original names...

 and Penwith College

Penwith College

Penwith College is a further and higher education institution based in Penzance, Cornwall. The college takes its name from the former local government district it was located in, Penwith. The college was founded in 1980 from the sixth form departments of the Humphry Davy Grammar School for Boys and...

. In Devon, it includes Bicton College

Bicton College

Bicton College is a college with around 1,000 full-time and 3,500 part-time pupils, located near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England. The college specialises in agriculture and currently offers courses in such topics as animal care, countyside management, horticulture, outdoor leisure, veterinary...

, City College, Plymouth, Exeter College, Exeter

Exeter College, Exeter

Exeter College is a tertiary college in the city of Exeter, Devon, England, providing further education for 16-18 year old students, including apprenticeships, A levels and the International Baccalaureate, as well as a range of courses for 14-16 year-olds, higher education and adult courses,...

, Petroc, and South Devon College

South Devon College

South Devon College is a large sized further education college providing a range of learning opportunities for the diverse communities within Torbay and the surrounding area...

. In Dorset, it includes Weymouth College

Weymouth College

Weymouth College is a Further Education college located in Weymouth, England.The college has over 7,000 students, studying on a wide range of practical and academic courses in many different subjects...

. In Somerset, it includes Bridgwater College

Bridgwater College

Bridgwater College is a further education college primarily based in Bridgwater, Somerset, England. It has centres in Cannington, Yeovil, and Paignton....

, Somerset College of Arts and Technology

Somerset College of Arts and Technology

Somerset College of Arts and Technology ' is a community college based in Taunton, in the county of Somerset, England. It was formed in 1974 after the merger of Somerset College of Art and Taunton Technical College. The college provides further and higher education courses, as well as a variety of...

 (SCAT), and Strode College

Strode College

Strode College is a tertiary institution and further education college situated in Street, Somerset, England. It provides education for students aged 16 and over, after they leave secondary school. These courses are usually A-levels or BTECs...

. In the Channel Islands, it includes Highlands College, Jersey

Highlands College, Jersey

Highlands College is a further and higher college in Jersey in the Channel Islands. It has 860 full-time and over 4,000 part-time and adult students. Highlands is a Partner College of the University of Plymouth . The Principal is Professor Eddy Sallis OBE, The Co-Principal is Dr James Job.The...

.