business degree course in Bermuda.

About 27 people have so far been accepted to do the course at Bermuda College from the end of August this year -- many of whom already work in the business sector.

Although the official closing date for applicants has gone, the college's Duranda Green, of the faculty of hotel and business administration department, said she was prepared to take some late entries.

She said: "We have been quite overwhelmed by the interest shown in the course and the number of people who have actually signed up.

"About ten of the people are going to do the course full-time, and about 17 will do it part-time on Thursday evenings.

"We are very pleased with the number of people who have enrolled. We thought that if we got ten to 15 students, we would be more than satisfied, but this is exceptional.'' It will be the first time that students will be able to complete a four-year Bachelor's degree course in business administration without leaving the Island.

In the past, students who successfully completed a two-year Associate degree programme in business at the college had to transfer to colleges and universities overseas for the final two years.

People with children, or those from less well-off families, were often unable to leave the Country and so unable to finish their course.

But this new project by the college, which has been arranged in partnership with Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia -- which is providing the necessary course work and expertise -- will help those in a disadvantaged position.

A number of big businesses on the Island have said they are interested in signing some of their employees up for the full and part-time courses.

Anyone interested in applying to do the course should get their entries in before June 23. An application fee of $30 will be charged.

For more information, call the college on 293-4043.

BUSINESS BUC