A message from the Principal

Welcome to University College Isle of Man.

At UCM we are committed to supporting the Island’s economy and the aspirations and wellbeing of our communities – a commitment that is stronger than ever after the significant disruptions to our way of life in recent years.

Everyone’s ambitions matter at UCM, and we are really pleased that you have, or are considering, to come to UCM to help you to achieve your goals. Together, we strive to provide education and training that inspires and empowers people to realise their dreams. As a former student I enjoyed an incredible student experience during my time here which provided me with strong foundations for further study and employment, and I hope you will too.

We are extremely proud of our dedicated, caring staff and our excellent facilities which include a wide range of real work environments. Whether you are a school leaver considering further or higher education, an employee looking to explore pathways to enhance your skill set, an adult looking to retrain or someone who is simply interested in learning something new, we will help you find the course that is right for you, with more than a thousand options to choose from each year!

We engage with 350+ local employers, fostering strong relationships which have a formative influence on the courses taught at UCM. Over 300 apprentices study with us each year and over the last 12 months we have developed over 60 new short courses for employers including a number of accredited courses. Through our employer engagement, students undertake a range of activities including work placements, live projects, competitions, guest speakers and employer events, ensuring students are well informed of their career pathways and prepared for employment.

We take great pride in supporting our students; our lecturers are passionate about what they do and have vast experience in the subjects they teach, enabling you to develop the skills, knowledge and qualifications you need. So too are our support staff, who are always there to help you along the way.  Our 2022/23 student year was again successful, with many of our students exceeding their predicted grades and progressing to employment or further study. Once again 87% of our graduating students gained top grades, achieving a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree, and in 2022 we made English and maths (up to GCSE level) free for our residents to support them in achieving their goals.

In 2023 we launched a new strategy with a strong focus on engagement, sustainability and excellence in teaching and research; you can read this strategy here. 

Together, we are facing the future with an overwhelming sense of optimism and positivity and we look forward to seeing you succeed in our UCM learning community. As a student at the College you are at the centre of everything we do. We want you to reach your full potential, whilst also enjoying an inclusive, caring and supportive college community where you can thrive and flourish.

Jesamine Kelly

Principal, UCM