A UNIVERSITY is in a class of its own when it comes to teaching computer skills.

Officials from the British Computer Society (BCS) were so impressed with what they saw on a visit to the University of Teesside at Middlesbrough, students will be either fully or partially exempt from taking any BCS exams in the future.

It is a further accolade for the university's school of computing and mathematics, the only computing faculty in a new university to gain an "excellent" rating for its teaching from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Dr Pete Prince, deputy director of the school, said: "Clearly, we are delighted that the British Computer Society has given Teesside a clean bill of health. It is a wonderful outcome and the result of the team spirit here; and I would like to congratulate all the academic, administrative and technical staff in the school.''

Experts from the BCS - the professional body for the industry - were "impressed with the organisational strengths of the school and the positive approach to course delivery, innovation and student support.''

Their glowing report means Bachelor of Science honours degrees have either full or partial exemption from BCS exams and that Master of Science and Higher National Diploma courses carry partial exemption.