51³Ô¹Ï

A 170-year-old religious college has announced it is closing its doors with immediate effect after its funding was unexpectedly pulled.

More than 200 students studying theological degrees at Spurgeon¡¯s College in south London are being offered the chance to transfer to other institutions.

Liverpool Hope University and the University of Manchester ¨C which both validated some of the programmes at Spurgeon¡¯s ¨C have said they will support students affected, with the former taking on some dissertation supervision.

In 2022, Spurgeon¡¯s was given its own degree-awarding powers which had been due to expire later this year. In a letter to students the college said it had ¡°been in contact with several providers, who run programmes similar to those at Spurgeon¡¯s, so that you can transfer to another provider to complete your studies¡±.

The Office for Students (OfS) said it had been informed about the closure and was working with the college to ¡°do all we can to ensure that students¡¯ interests are protected in this challenging situation¡±.

Founded in 1856 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the college primarily trained new Baptist ministers.

It said that ¡°like many higher education institutions ¨C particularly within the Theology sector ¨C Spurgeon¡¯s College has faced significant financial challenges for several years, driven by declining student numbers and an increasingly complex and difficult financial landscape¡±.

A partnership with a charitable foundation formed in recent months had ¡°provided vital financial support and offered assurances to both the college and the Office for Students of continued funding¡±.

But this was ¡°unexpectedly terminated¡± without warning on 21 July, meaning the college could ¡°no longer sustain its financial operations and has been left with no choice but to enter the insolvency process immediately¡±.

¡°We understand this news will come as a profound shock to many. The trustees, leadership, and staff of Spurgeon¡¯s College have worked tirelessly and faithfully to find a sustainable path forward and avoid this outcome,¡± the college statement said.

Market exit and its impact on students has become a major concern for the English sector in recent years, as a bleak financial climate threatened to topple more institutions.

Spurgeon¡¯s was required to have a student protection plan in place by the OfS, which stated there was a ¡°high¡± risk of closure, although this appeared to have been added recently.

Students on Liverpool Hope-validated courses will benefit from ¡°step-in¡± rights included in the agreement that allows the university to take control of the part of the delivery of the course.

Those affected are currently in their dissertation period, meaning supervision will pass on to academics based 200 miles away.

The future for students on Manchester-validated courses was less clear. They have been told that the university is doing ¡°all they can to ensure that you are able to continue your studies¡± and will be in contact ¡°within the next two weeks to discuss your specific situation¡±.

All college buildings have been closed and there is no access to the site.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com