Higher Education In this section Studying higher education Innovate 21 Competition Programmes Foundation degree programmes Top-up degree programmes Masters degree Professional qualifications Higher Apprenticeships North East Institute of Technology Research & Scholarly Activity Student life HE Information HE Development Projects Find out more about our Higher Education Development Projects. The AoC Scholarship Project New College Durham is one of the 15 lead colleges in the Association of Colleges (AoC) Scholarship Project. Addressing Barriers to Student Success New College Durham has established a partnership with Darlington and Sunderland Colleges, and will be leading a project to address barriers to student success. Learning Gain Pilot Project New College Durham is currently part of thirteen pilot projects that will look at learning gain in higher education students.