University of St Andrews - Course decision deferred for year

A decision about whether to close an undergraduate geosciences degree at the University of St Andrews has been postponed for another year. A proposal put forward by senior managers and academic staff favoured closing the geosciences course in order to concentrate on developing new courses bringing together both geography and sustainable development. But the university's principal, Louise Richardson, has called for the decision to be put on hold, pending further discussion. The course currently admits just 20 students a year, and concern has been raised about its teaching and infrastructure costs.