Last updated at 01:41 13 May 2008

For students tired of experimenting in the laboratory or writing essays, there is an alternative - a degree in juggling.

Those who enrol on the two-year Street Arts Performance course - the first of its kind at a British university - can also learn mime and fire-eating.

City College, Brighton University, says it will boost "skills in relation to business and legal affairs" and help students "find and sustain employment opportunities".

Scroll down for more...

East Sussex is the first of its kind to offer students a degree in juggling

The course leads to a foundation degree qualification.

Education campaigners last night called it a waste of taxpayers' money.

Nick Seaton, of the Campaign For Real Education, said: Nick Seaton, of pressure group the Campaign For Real Education, insisted: "This is absolutely crazy.

"People have been learning these skills for thousands of years and they certainly don't need an expensive new course like this.

"Taxpayers will be picking up most of the bill for this and I think it is a complete waste of taxpayers' money.

"If younsters want to develop these sort of skills they would better off learning them on the job - or doing it at their own time and expense."

The college insisted the course was worthwhile, adding: "This is a course for performing and visual artists who are seeking to work in the increasingly popular field of street arts which includes all types of outdoor performances such as carnivals, street theatre, installations and spectaculors."

A college spokesman defended it saying: "Students will be developing their skills through working with practicioners in events such as Brighton Festival and Fringe Festival in a range of different capacities.

Scroll down for more...

New course: Students at Bath Universtity can now study for a degree in funeral directing

"As well as the creative aspects of the work, students will also gain skills in relation to business and legal affairs and how to find a sustain employment opportunities."

The College said fees for the two years would likely be set at £6,290. They will be funded through tax-payer subsidised student loans.

Meanwhile, Students at the University of Bath will learn how to embalm, transport corpses, and choose coffins, as well as burial at sea, funeral rituals and how to comfort grieving relatives.

The funeral directing course is also the first of its kind in the country and includes a placement with a funeral parlour.

Dr Glennys Howarth, director of the university's Centre for Death and Society, says they have already received more applications than available places for the course, which was designed with the National Association of Funeral Directors.

She said: "So far there has been a huge amount of interest - applications are still coming in and we have already got far more than the 20-25 places we have to offer.

"We're not teaching them how to handle bodies and carry coffins but we will have courses or arrangements with various funeral directors to teach them those skills if they don't have them.

"But we will be equipping them with more understanding about grief and bereavement and how to deal with things like mass fatalities."

Students can enrol on a two-year diploma or a three-year Foundation Degree in Funeral Services (FDSc).

Experts hope the course will be a shot in the arm for the ailing industry.

John Harris, a partner in Thomas Cribb and Sons in London, has followed his father, grandfather and great grandfather into the trade.

He said: "From a professional point of view it's great because it's filling a gap and enabling people to have an academic qualification.

"In the long term I think this will drive up standards and help us be a more professional business with external verifications."