Preceding the current establishment was a Science and Arts college of which was first founded in 1887 by appointment of Somerset County Council.
[2] Deemed successful, the results of the experiment has given rise to the college in its present form as well as allowing room for expansion, notably with the introduction of Degree level study at the University Centre Yeovil.
[3] The Leonardo Building opened in September 2007 and is a 5.7 million pound development featuring new equipment and dedicated facilities for Design, Art, Engineering, Photography and Media Students.
Yeovil College also offers the Extended Project Qualification and AQA Baccalaureate to particularly able students as part of its Gifted and Talented programme.
[10] The UCY has nursing students and offers a number of unique courses found nowhere else in the country, including a degree in Sustainable Graphics and Packaging and Garden History and Heritage Horticulture.
Following an internal restructuring in 2008, the college is now separated into the following departments of Faculties, each managed by a Faculty Director: Arts, Media and Publishing, Health, Care and Teacher Training, Business and Hospitality, Engineering and Construction, Sport, Hair, Beauty and Complementary Therapies and Preparation for Life and Work.
Further restructuring in 2014 has divided the curriculum into 12 "Areas" each have a centre area manager or CAM, the 12 are, Creative and Design Industries, Engineering, Construction, Motor vehicle, Hospitality, A-Levels, IT, Hair and Beauty Health, social care, Sport, Prep for working life, Business studies.
[12] The College participates in the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) run by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.