Axe falls on Swansea departments

Swansea University's governing council has voted to go ahead with plans to close three departments and axe undergraduate teaching in another.

Governors voted three to one, at a council meeting on Monday, in favour of the restructuring plans to phase out philosophy, anthropology, sociology and undergraduate courses at Swansea's Centre for Development Studies.

But they gave a stay of execution to chemistry, which was also due to be closed down under the plans.

Chemistry's fate will be decided in three weeks once a business plan for the discipline has been examined by the university's finance committee.

Richard Davies, Swansea's vice-chancellor, said the plans would help fund expansion in history, English, computing, psychology, geography, management and law.

He said: "Teaching in those departments selected to be phased out will continue for current students and we welcome the support of neighbouring higher education institutions in ensuring a full range of courses, if necessary."