Almost 300 students who were set to start studying in Leicester this September will have their offers cancelled, a union has claimed, after the University of Leicester closed their courses.
After months of consultation, which sparked protests and industrial action late last year, earlier this month the university confirmed that its Modern Languages and Film Studies courses would be shut down.
The University and Colleges Union (UCU) said the fact the decision was made part-way through the UCAS admissions cycle meant hundreds of hopeful students would now face their offers being rescinded – and also mean the loss of 17 jobs.
Students and staff held protests in November over plans to shut down Modern Languages and Film Studies courses at the university. Credit: ITV News Central
The union’s branch co-chair, Dr Joseph Choonara, said he was “absolutely appalled” by the decision.”This will diminish the chances students have to study these subjects in the East Midlands,” he said.
“And it’s also a real blow to the staff members who have been fighting to prevent the closures in recent months.”
The university has announced that, following reviews, no compulsory redundancies will be made in the history or School of Education departments.
However, consultations over the Chemistry and Geography, Geology and the Environment courses are still ongoing. They are due to close at the end of the month, with decisions over their futures set to come in the middle of May.
The UCU Leicester branch now plans to stage more industrial action in the coming days.
ITV News Central has approached the University of Leicester for comment.
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