Status seeker

Bolton Institute has formally applied to adopt the title "University of Bolton". The institute is the only institution in the country with both research and teaching degree-awarding powers not to have university status, It had expected to wait the normal three years after receiving research degree-awarding powers before applying, which would have meant delaying until October 1998. But Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, advised the Privy Council to speed the process.