Course, campus or university closures

Find out what to expect if you are affected by a course, campus, university or college closure.

1. Read your university or college’s student protection plan

Any university or college registered with us needs to have a plan in place to protect students’ interests in the event of a course, campus, university or college closure. We call this a student protection plan.

Student protection plans should be publicly available on the university or college’s website. It will help you to understand what to expect from your university or college.

The plan should clearly set out:

• the risk that a campus, course, university or college will need to close
• the ways that they will minimise disruption for students in the event of closures
• plans for how students can continue and complete their course
• details of their refund and compensation policy
• how they will communicate with affected students.

In the event of a full university or college closure, we can require a registered university or college to produce and put into action an additional ‘market exit plan’. This outlines further steps that they must take to protect their students.

2. Understand your options

If you are being affected by a closure, we expect your university or college to provide you with clear, accessible information and support relevant to your specific circumstances. This should include:

• clear timescales for when the closure will take place
• alternative study options, to enable you to make an informed decision about your next steps
• whether or not you can transfer credits from your course to another course at the same institution, or, in the case of a full institutional closure, another university or college
• arrangements for a smooth transfer to a new course, campus or higher education provider
• how you can receive credit and formal recognition of your academic attainment to date
• whether you are entitled to a refund or compensation for any disruption
• where to find support and who to contact with any questions
• how to complain.

3. Know your rights

Even during periods of disruption, your university or college should still be providing you with high quality teaching, resources and assessments.

You should still be given the level of service promised to you in your student contract.