Information for students on closure of courses at Spurgeon’s College
This page provides information for students affected by the closure of higher education courses at Spurgeon’s College.
We will update the page with more information as it becomes available.
Information for students
Students at Spurgeon’s College have been told that their higher education courses will be closed. We understand that this is an exceptionally difficult time for them.
We have been working with the college and its validators to do all we can to ensure that students' interests are protected in this challenging situation.
If you need talk to someone at the college, they can be contacted by [email protected].
Spurgeon’s has written to all current students about their transfer options.
Students whose courses are validated by the University of Manchester
The University of Manchester will do all it can to ensure that you can continue your studies. It will be in contact with you within the next two weeks to discuss your situation.
Students whose degrees are or were awarded by University of Manchester can contact the university to access student records.
If you have any questions, you can contact the university at [email protected].
Students whose courses are validated by Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool Hope University has agreed to take on the supervision of your dissertation period so you will complete your studies with them. Your registration will be transferred to Liverpool Hope so that you will be a full registered Liverpool Hope student.
The college has sent a copy of your learning transcript to you. The college will also send your transcript and student record to Liverpool Hope so it can access these in the future if needed.
Please contact Professor Atulya Nagar, PVC (Research) on [email protected] to discuss your situation and next steps.
If you need further support related to mental health or wellbeing, then you can also contact the Hope Student Life team.
Students at Irish Baptist College
As a student registered with the Irish Baptist College, you should contact them for further information and advice regarding next steps.
- Principal, Johnny McClaughlin [email protected]
- Director of Training, Davy Ellison [email protected]
If your degree is or was awarded by Irish Baptist College, you can contact them to access student records.
Awards from Spurgeon’s College
Current students whose awards are validated by Spurgeon’s College will be issued a copy of their transcript via email.
If Spurgeon’s College awards your academic qualification, you should have already received a copy of your award. You can access your academic records by contacting [email protected].
You should be prepared to confirm your student ID number and other personal information that will allow the college to verify your identity.
If you have a learning enhancement plan or a disability adjustment, then Spurgeon’s College is unable to share this data with a third party without your consent. Please contact [email protected] to discuss this.
Student applicants
If you are a Baptist Union student, then please contact your regional minister. We realise that this will come as a shock and disappointment to you and that you will have many questions.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Please add this email address to your safe senders list.
What can students expect?
In this situation, all students at Spurgeon’s College must be given:
- the opportunity to continue with their studies at another university or college, or
- the option to end their studies and receive credit for their academic attainment to date.
Students can also explore the full range of study options available to them through UCAS, which has information on the majority of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the UK.
Students should be able to discuss transfer options or other suitable courses they are interested in during their conversations with Spurgeon’s College.
Students may be entitled to compensation for the disruption and associated costs.
We are working with Spurgeon’s College to ensure it is doing everything it can to enable students to find an acceptable alternative to continue their studies.
SLC is responsible for paying tuition fees directly to colleges and universities on behalf of students. Once the student confirms which university they will study at, the university will inform SLC and tuition fees will be paid as per the normal process.
Self-funded students
If you have paid for all or part of your course upfront without a student loan, you may experience delays to any refund you seek because an administrator would be appointed to consider all creditor’s claims. When we receive more information on the arrangements we will provide an update on this page.
If you used a credit card to pay for your fees you may be able to use Section 75 refunds – this is a UK consumer protection law.
Contact with Spurgeon’s College
Spurgeon’s students have been told that their courses are being closed. Current students and student applicants have been sent a letter outlining their options.
Any students who, for whatever reason, may not have received a direct communication from Spurgeon’s College should contact [email protected] with any questions and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Please add this email address to your safe senders list.
If you have a complaint that relates to the closure of courses at Spurgeon’s College, you should raise the matter with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). The OIA is an independent body that reviews student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales. The OIA’s service is intended as a free alternative to legal action.
Spurgeon’s College is a member of the OIA Scheme and so Spurgeon’s College students can complain until at least July 2026. However, because the college has closed, it is unlikely the OIA will be able to fully review your complaint, and if they were to uphold your complaint it is likely that ways to put things right would be very limited.
Before you fill in the Complaint Form, it may be helpful to talk to them first. You can call them on 0118 989 9813 or you can email [email protected].
If you are dissatisfied with something to do with the university partner or have transferred to another provider and are unhappy about them, you may be able to complain to the OIA about that. As a first step, you should raise your concerns with the provider you are studying at.
We appreciate the impact this news may have on students affected. If you are concerned about your mental health and wellbeing, there are resources available.
Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, offers lots of information on the support available for students.
If you need urgent support for yourself or a friend, there are services that can help:
- The Samaritans are open every day of the year, you can phone them for free on 116 123 or email [email protected].
- Mind, the mental health charity, offers support by phone at 0300 123 3393 or online.
- Papyrus will provide confidential help and advice to young people thinking about suicide and anyone worried about a young person.
- SHOUT 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
If you need medical advice you can:
- book an emergency GP appointment with your GP surgery
- call the NHS 111 (England and Wales) or NHS 24 (Scotland, 08454 242424) for urgent advice
- call 999 or visit your nearest accident and emergency department (A&E) if it's an emergency
- find out about longer term support available through the NHS.
Spurgeon’s will inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) about the change in your status. Your portal details, along with copies of other relevant documentation, will be accessible to the support team so they can approve a transfer of sponsorship to a new provider.
We recognise that this 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.
As an international student, your permission to stay in the UK is based on Spurgeon’s College holding a sponsor licence.
After Spurgeon’s licence to sponsor international students ends, 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 is less than 60 days left on your current permission.
Until you are contacted by UKVI, your current permission expiry date remains in place.
You can apply for permission to stay in the UK to study on a new course as long as the new course starts no more than 28 days after the expiry date of your permission – depending on when you apply, this may be your current expiry date, or the new expiry date given by UKVI.
UK Council for International Student Affairs can provide advice and support for international students.
As the independent regulator of higher education in England we have a role to help ensure that when a higher education provider such as Spurgeon's College closes, you are able to carry on with your studies or receive credit for your academic attainment to date.
For further information regarding how we process personal data to facilitate the arrangements for students to continue their studies at an alternative higher education provider, please read the full privacy notice.
Last updated 22 August 2025 + show all updates
22 August 2025 - Added privacy note
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