The University of Chester is celebrating having seen the first students from its ground-breaking Foundation Degree in Mortuary Science graduate earlier this month, watched by John Tempest, former President of the British Institute of Embalmers.

The course was the UK’s first Higher Education qualification for those working in the mortuary profession and was heralded as a ‘real breakthrough’ when it launched in January 2008.

Covering a diverse range of subjects, including biological chemistry, cell and tissue science and anatomy and physiology, the course opened up a world of opportunity for students, with the internationally recognised qualification potentially paving the way to work in the lucrative markets of North and South America where a formal qualification is required.

One student to have successfully completed the course is Milissa Wilson. Having worked as an embalmer for six years, Milissa, from Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, relished the chance to take a qualification in the subject.

She said: “It brought a new angle to consider in my profession. I enjoyed the course. It taught me how to study and research effectively and also that university can be for everyone.

“I am proud to be part of the UK’s very first Foundation Degree in Mortuary Science and I hope it will continue to promote our work. In some ways, we are quite a hidden profession.”

Primarily aimed at individuals already working in the sector, students complete their programme through ‘blended learning’, which involves a combination of taught sessions at the University, distance-learning at home and in the workplace, and e-learning.

Such was the recognition for the course within the mortuary profession, Yorkshire-based company Chemsol Ltd, which specialises in supplying a wide range of chemicals, consumables and equipment to hospitals, funeral services, and mortuaries, put up an annual award for students on the course.

In its first year, the Chemsol Award for Student Progression and Achievement in Mortuary Science was won by Isobel Remmer. Throughout her studies at the University, Isobel consistently achieved a high standard of pass marks across the programme.

This achievement demonstrated her dedication to her studies by combining hard work and effort alongside her work commitments.

Isobel, also from Newton Aycliffe, said: “To win the Chemsol Award was just fantastic, everyone in the group did amazingly well to gain their Foundation Degree but for me it was a personal achievement knowing the hard work and determination I had put in to get my Degree.

“I enjoyed the course very much, it gave me an insight to University life as I was unable to attend a university when I left school. It has also encouraged my youngest daughter to go to University.

“It gave me the opportunity to meet people from all backgrounds and interests as well as making some great friends along the way. What’s more, it also enabled me to get a place on an MSc Masters Degree; Mass Fatality and Victim Identification course which would not have been possible before.”

The University has now extended its Mortuary Science programme with the introduction of the country’s first full BSc degree in Mortuary Science.