University open to first students

Computer-generated impression of waterfront building

Suffolk's first university has opened its doors to its first students.

University Campus Suffolk (UCS), in Ipswich, has been established by the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex.

Medical students arrived at campus in the morning, with the remaining student body to join them next week.

The main base, at the former Suffolk College site, is to be replaced with a development on Ipswich waterfront, due to open in 2008.

The new development is set to cost £65m.

Richard Lister, director of planning and resources at the university, said: "We look at all the students streaming in the door here this morning but they're also streaming in in Bury, in Lowestoft, in Otley and in Great Yarmouth, so it's all across the county and over the border into Norfolk.

"I think its one of the things that makes this both unique and really exciting.

"We should have around about 3,400 students or something like that with us this year, in less than a decade that will be 8,000."