Nearly half of students concerned about their course closing

Half of English students have noticed an impact from cost-cutting measures at their university, with most saying it was leading to a worse experience than expected.

Teaching and student support were among the areas being most heavily affected by drastic cuts being made by institutions across the country, according to new polling commissioned by the Office for Students (OfS).

Universities have cut more than 13,000 jobs across academic and professional services roles in the past year alone, with cost-saving measures also impacting the availability of some facilities on campuses.

Savanta polled a cross-section of 1,256 students studying at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels at universities or colleges regulated by the OfS in April last year.

Results published on 29 January show about half (52 per cent) of respondents have noticed the impact of cost-cutting measures at their institutions.

Asked for specifics, the most cited differences include increased class sizes (40 per cent) and lack of staff availability and capacity (44 per cent).

The English regulator has come under pressure to do more to protect students’ interests amid concerns that the changes are leading universities to offer a worse experience.

A vast majority (83 per cent) of the survey respondents say they have noticed a gap between what they were promised by their university and the reality.

“I was promised a class of 15 but now there are 25 students per class,” says one comment included in the report.

“Classes are much larger than expected and some courses and/or resources they promised were either cut or moved online due to budget cuts,” another adds.

Others highlighted reduced resources such as a lack of access to libraries, laboratories and sports facilities as well as reduced services such as career and mental health support.

A quarter of the students say they are more likely to consider dropping out as a result of the financial challenges their university is facing, the survey finds.

Universities have also closed thousands of courses amid the cutbacks, with some students complaining that the programmes they signed up for no longer exist or have been merged into a different offering.

The survey finds just under half (46 per cent) of respondents are concerned about the possibility of their course or department closing because of cost-cutting measures – with a third (32 per cent) “quite concerned” and 15 per cent “very concerned”.

More students are unaware than aware (54 per cent versus 44 per cent) about what would happen should there be closures, with more than half (58 per cent) unaware of their institution’s student protection plan, which should outline the measures that would be taken.

Most expected to receive support from their institution to finish their courses or transfer to another institution during potential closures.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com