The first students to take a degree in automotive management straight from A-levels have graduated.

The students worked full-time in dealerships while doing the BSc (Hons) in retail automotive management at Loughborough University.

Programme director professor Jim Saker said: "Three years ago we were granted permission to launch a BSc degree in Retail Automotive Management aimed at A-level school leavers with jobs in the retail automotive sector.

"This was quite a risk for the University as majority of BSc degrees in the UK require a minimum of three years’ full-time study.

"With our first-ever cohort having graduated this July, we have proved that it is possible for young people to get a proper university Honours degree by integrating their studies with their work situation.

"It offers an alternative model for 18 year olds to gain a degree without student debt."

Ruth Cufflin from the Centre for Automotive Management said the students could apply what they had learnt in their lectures directly into their work situation.

Each student's dealership employer paid the University fees while the student worked in a normal role within the company, and attended their university lectures in four-day blocks.