The college took its name from Robert Grosseteste, a 13th-century statesman, scholastic philosopher, theologian, scientist and Bishop of Lincoln. The college began awarded degrees of Bachelor of Education (BEd), originally validated by the University of Nottingham. From 1987, degrees were validated by the University of Hull and BEd students spent one of the four years of their course reading their main subject at Hull. In 1991, the college stopped awarding BEd degrees and began instead to award the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Qualified Teacher Status (BA(Hons)QTS). In 2003, a Validation Agreement was signed with the University of Leicester.