ACADEMICS at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College have expressed disappointment after the centre's bid for full university status was snubbed.

BCUC had applied to the higher education watchdog, the Quality Assurance Agency, to drop "college" from its title, but failed to meet the necessary criteria.

The institute will continue awarding students with its own undergraduate and masters degrees, and has played down the impact the news may have on future student recruitment.

Professor Bryan Mogford, director, told Midweek: "We are surprised and disappointed by the view of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) that BCUC has yet to meet the criteria necessary for the award of university title.

"BCUC has enjoyed degree awarding powers for a number of years. It has an excellent track record of review as an institution operating in the university sector and had its last successful full institutional audit by QAA only last month."

The centre was among the first batch of higher education colleges in England seeking university status under the Government's new expansion plans for higher education.

Deputy director David Gay added: "The reason we want the university title is that we think people don't understand the difference between a university and a university college. It's important for Wycombe as well as for ourselves. "

Founded in 1893 as a school of art and science, BCUC secured degree awarding powers in 1995 and formally changed its name to Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College in February 1999.

The chief provider of higher education in Buckinghamshire, the centre operates on three campuses, two of which (including its main campus) are in High Wycombe, with a third in Chalfont St Giles.

Ian Spencer, of QAA, said recommendations had been made to the Department for Education and Skills, but thisdid not rule out a change in status for the university college in the future.

He added: "It's complicated. It's a little more than simply removing the word college from their title. Essentially they have to demonstrate to us that the systems in place are good enough to be reflected by university status."