Lack of cover prompts legal bid

A second group of students is threatening to take Swansea University to court over the closure of their departments as philosophy undergraduates prepare for a preliminary hearing on their lawsuit next week, writes Tony Tysome.

Anthropology, sociology, chemistry and development studies students are taking legal advice on whether they can sue the university for what they call a failure to provide adequate teaching cover after their departments were "restructured".

They have been encouraged by philosophy students, who have found a solicitor and barrister to take their case to court free of charge. The philosophy students claim that their education has been affected by the suspension of lecturer Colwyn Williamson. They hope their hearing will be held next week.

Richard Davies, Swansea's vice-chancellor, said: "We have put a lot of effort into ensuring that there is continuity in these students' courses."