Course, campus or university closures

Support for students affected by closures

If you have any questions or want further information about a course, campus or institutional closure, you should speak to your university or college, or your students’ union in the first instance.

Making a complaint

If you have been affected by a closure and you feel you are not getting the information or support you need, your university or college should have a clear complaints process in place.

If you have a complaint, you should:

  1. Start by raising your concern directly with your university or college.
  2. If this doesn't resolve the issue, you can raise the matter with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). You can also contact the OIA for general information about the complaints process. The OIA is an independent body that reviews student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales.

Support for affected international students

We recognise that a course or campus closure situation is difficult for international students, but you may still have opportunities to continue to study in the UK. You also do not need to leave the UK immediately if your course closes.

As an international student, your permission to stay in the UK is based on your university or college holding a sponsor licence.

If your university or college’s licence to sponsor international students ends, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will review your permission and contact you with a new, shorter visa expiry date.

You will usually have 60 days’ permission to remain in the UK from the date that UKVI contact you with a new expiry date, unless there are less than 60 days left on your current permission.

Until you are contacted by UKVI, your current permission expiry date remains in place.

If there are any changes to your university or college’s sponsor licence, your university or college should provide you with information about your visa status.

You can also contact UKVI or your embassy for further information about your visa status.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs can provide advice and support for international students.

Mental health support

Unexpected changes to your studies can be unsettling. Your university or college may run their own mental health support services, or you can find details of mental health support options on our website.

Published 07 July 2025

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