Rare insight into the experiences of students whose higher education providers or courses have closed is highlighted in a new report published today.
Students talked about the lasting impact closure could have on their wellbeing, confidence and future aspirations, in the joint Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) and SUMS Consulting report.
At a time when financial sustainability remains a significant challenge for many higher education providers, the report highlights the human impact of provider and course closures, drawing on the experiences of students who have lived through them.
The new report, The student experience of higher education provider closure, explores what effective student protection looks like from the perspective of students affected by closure. Based on interviews with former students, the report finds that while provider closure is often viewed by institutions and regulators as an operational or regulatory event, students experience it as a personal and often prolonged process that can begin long before any formal announcement is made.
Participants described periods of uncertainty characterised by cancelled classes, staff departures, reduced provision and concerns about the quality of their educational experience. Some reported learning about closure through media coverage before receiving formal communication, whilst others described struggling to access clear information and support during periods of significant change.
Students who met with the report’s researchers said:
‘It felt like they had already started planning the closure far before they told us about it, perhaps even as early as when we were accepting our places.’
‘It wasn’t so much one final project that was impacted. I feel like it was the whole course. I graduated feeling like I actually hadn’t learned what I wanted to learn.’
‘We were all really stressed, really angry, especially in our third year. Everything was just really, really bad.’
The research also found that the consequences of closure can continue long after students have completed or transferred their studies. Participants reported reduced confidence in their qualifications, difficulties obtaining references, financial concerns and lasting impacts on their wellbeing. Some described feeling less trusting of higher education institutions as a result of their experience.
The report found that some groups of students may face additional risks and barriers during provider closure, including students from underrepresented backgrounds, international students and those with caring responsibilities.
Building on these findings, the report makes recommendations for government, regulators, higher education providers and the wider sector to strengthen student protection arrangements and reduce potential harm to students affected by provider closure and other forms of significant institutional change.
Charlotte Corrish, Head of Public Policy at the OIA, said: "The students who contributed to this research offered valuable insight into an experience that is rarely captured in policy discussions about provider closure. Their accounts remind us that student protection is about much more than enabling academic continuation. It is also about how people are supported through uncertainty, disruption and change. We hope this report helps ensure that student voices remain central to future policy and practice."
Nick Pidgeon, Managing Consultant at SUMS Consulting, said: "The financial challenges facing higher education providers mean that institutional change is becoming an increasingly important issue across the sector. While provider closure remains relatively uncommon, the experiences captured in this report demonstrate the importance of planning, communication and student-centred decision-making whenever significant change occurs. By listening directly to students, we can better understand the practical steps institutions, regulators and government can take to minimise harm and strengthen protection."
This report builds on a programme of collaborative work undertaken by the OIA and SUMS Consulting to improve understanding of higher education provider closure and strengthen student protection.
In 2025, the organisations jointly published Putting students first: Managing the impact of higher education provider closure, including the Higher Education Provider Closure Framework. The framework provides a practical checklist to help higher education providers prepare for, manage and mitigate the risks associated with course or provider closure, covering governance, communications, student protection and institutional responsibilities.
While the 2025 report focused on lessons learned from previous closures and recommendations for providers, regulators and government, this latest research brings forward the voices of students themselves. Together, the two reports provide a more comprehensive picture of how the sector can reduce harm and improve outcomes when significant institutional change affects students.
The 2026 report is available on our website.
Notes to editors
For further information please contact the OIA at CommunicationsTeam@oiahe.org.uk, telephone 0118 959 9813, or SUMS Consulting via www.sums.ac.uk/contact (please select the press enquiries option).
About the report
The Student Experience of Higher Education Provider Closure report is based on qualitative research undertaken by SUMS Consulting in partnership with the OIA. The study included interviews and focus groups with students who experienced provider or course closure, alongside interviews with sector stakeholders involved in supporting students through closure processes.
About the OIA
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is the independent student complaints ombuds service for higher education in England and Wales. Its service is free to students.
The OIA reviews complaints from students about higher education providers after internal processes have been completed, in accordance with its Scheme Rules. Students normally have up to 12 months after receiving a Completion of Procedures Letter to bring a complaint to the OIA.
For more information visit: www.oiahe.org.uk.
About SUMS Consulting
SUMS Consulting is a not-for-profit membership organisation and registered charity, owned by universities and dedicated to supporting the higher education sector.
SUMS works side-by-side with universities, combining sector insight, data, benchmarking and practical delivery expertise to help institutions address complex challenges and achieve lasting improvement. Its work spans strategy, transformation, service excellence, organisational performance and change delivery, helping higher education providers respond effectively to an evolving operating environment.
Collaboration, evidence, innovation and impact sit at the heart of SUMS' approach. As an organisation owned by and embedded within the sector, SUMS acts as a trusted partner and constructive critical friend to universities across the UK and internationally.
For more information visit: www.sums.ac.uk or email: consulting@sums.ac.uk.