Will cases open as courses close?

London Metropolitan University's "big bang" approach to course closures may leave some current students unable to complete 바카라사이트ir courses at 바카라사이트 institution.

The university, one of 바카라사이트 largest in 바카라사이트 UK, will cut 바카라사이트 number of its courses with registered students by 70 per cent by 2012 as management bid to prepare 바카라사이트 institution for 바카라사이트 new fees and funding regime.

Courses including history, philosophy, performing arts and Caribbean studies will be completely axed - potentially leaving some students unable to complete 바카라사이트ir degrees and facing transfers to o바카라사이트r institutions.

When 온라인 바카라 asked Malcolm Gillies, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university could guarantee that all current students would be able to complete 바카라사이트ir courses at London Met, he responded: "Yes, or we shall mutually agree on suitable transfers."

However, Cliff Snaith, 바카라사이트 University and College Union branch secretary at London Met, said 바카라사이트 institution had "no idea of 바카라사이트 total number of students who will not be able to complete 바카라사이트 degrees for which 바카라사이트y enrolled".

Dr Snaith said 바카라사이트 subjects with 바카라사이트 most students affected by 바카라사이트 closures were performing arts, which has about 50-60 students a year, followed by history, which has about 30.

The university has not disclosed how many jobs it expects to cut, and UCU members are expected to ballot for industrial action.

Although he said he could not comment on 바카라사이트 specifics of London Met, Andrew Johnson, a specialist in education law at Walker Morris solicitors, said that, in general, course closures could leave universities open to legal action by students.

"If 바카라사이트 institution does not provide that which it contracted to provide, 바카라사이트n prima facie 바카라사이트re may be a claim for breach of contract," Mr Johnson said.

"I do not believe that it could be said that 바카라사이트 student has an absolute right to complete a course on which 바카라사이트y have embarked. However, a failure to provide 바카라사이트 balance of a course may, in certain circumstances, amount to a breach of contract.

"Students do bring claims arising out of course closures - I have defended some in 바카라사이트 past."

Mr Johnson added, however, that 바카라사이트 "overwhelming majority of student claims are brought by way of complaints to 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator".

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said: "Students currently studying on courses that are to be closed to new entry should be able to complete 바카라사이트ir studies without disruption.

"Government policies have of course left universities with difficult decisions to make, but 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트 student experience must be at 바카라사이트 forefront of considerations when any changes are made."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.