The financial challenges faced by the higher education sector have become one of the defining policy challenges. Course closures, restructures and financial distress are no longer isolated events, but increasingly form part of the operating environment for many higher education providers (HEPs). This is creating significant risks for applicants and students who may not even be aware of them. While HEPs are making difficult decisions to secure their future, the sector’s priority must remain to ensure that students are protected whenever their experience is affected.
The new report published today by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) and SUMS Consulting provides rare insight into the experiences of students whose higher education providers or courses have closed, highlighting the lasting impact that such changes can have on students’ wellbeing, confidence and future aspirations.
Whilst the students we spoke to were from closures that took place at England-based HEPs, the findings and lessons are relevant to the other nations and to other forms of institutional change. This includes merger or strategic partnerships, all of which can impact students’ experiences.
Participants’ experiences reveal that provider or course closure is not simply an operational event. For students, it is deeply personal; impacting their wellbeing, financial confidence and future aspirations, as well as their perception of higher education. Students reported lasting mental health impacts and reduced confidence as well as financial hardship.
The findings also show that impacts are not necessarily experienced equally. Students from underrepresented backgrounds, international students, and those with caring responsibilities can face additional barriers and greater consequences. Their experiences show that student protection needs to be about more than securing academic continuation but rather addressing the individual needs of students during a time of significant change. Without access to targeted support, closures risk widening existing inequalities in higher education.
Charlotte Corrish, Head of Public Policy at the OIA, said:
The research highlights the importance of timely communication and effective partnership working. While closure will always be difficult, careful planning and a student-centred approach can mitigate some of the harm, and students should not bear responsibility for navigating the process alone. Support that is proactive, coordinated and easy to access should be a key driver of any government and regulatory response.
One of the more striking findings is that students experience uncertainty long before closure, noting the cancellation of classes, reduced provision and declining quality. These findings reinforce that effective student protection extends beyond regulatory compliance. It requires HEPs to consider the whole student experience before, during and after closure.
Nick Pidgeon, Managing Consultant and SUMS Consulting, said:
The work reveals the longer-term human impact that is often invisible following closure. Whilst this study is inevitably limited by the constraints of contacting students, the passage of time and their limited desire to reflect on the consequences, insight into their experiences strengthens the evidence for continued collaboration across government, regulators and HEPs to ensure students remain at the heart of decision-making.
We are grateful to every student who shared their experiences for this study. Their willingness to reflect on what were difficult periods has created valuable evidence that we hope will improve sector practice and ultimately better protect students who may face similar circumstances.
