Recruitment Halted for 138 Courses in Wolverhampton

The University of Wolverhampton have stated that they will not be recruiting any students for 138 of their courses commencing in September.

The courses are split across undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and across all of the university's campuses.

A spokesperson has said that a reduction in income and rising costs caused by the pandemic meant the university was facing a "very challenging financial landscape". As such, they are now carrying out a "robust recovery action plan", which includes an internal cost-saving exercise.

Current students on the courses will continue to be taught. Staff have also been offered a "mutually agreed" resignation scheme.

Approximately a fifth of the affected courses are performing arts subjects, based at the Walsall campus. Others include some of the craft areas in the School of Arts, taught in the building near Molineux, and some course areas in the sciences.

Professor Ian Campbell, the university's interim vice-chancellor, said: "We have been assessing subject areas using information such as enrolment and application data. This evidence-based review means we are looking to consolidate some areas and are suspending recruitment of new students on some courses.

"In the majority of cases, we are offering alternatives for applicants looking to join in September 2022. Current students on these courses will be taught as normal."

The university's branch of the University and College Union stated that this will affect students applying for courses at the University of Wolverhampton School of Performing Arts (SoPA).

In a statement on social media, the trade union said: "SoPA's students are largely from the West Midlands (65 per cent) and largely first-generation university students (70 per cent). Their education in the performing arts ripples out into the local community and the wider industries. Courses will be immediately closed to recruitment, we have been told this is nominally for a one year period, but this is being carried out in tandem with large scale "mutually agreed resignation" schemes with compulsory redundancies likely."