Concerns have been raised over how UCL has handled the slow “dismantling” of the country’s oldest educational psychology doctorate, with students claiming the uncertainties have left them struggling to complete their studies.

Three years after UCL decided to close two highly regarded programmes, those affected say they have only just been informed of a “teach-out” plan, with questions remaining about whether supervisors will still be in post to oversee the completion of their degrees.

Students claim the university has failed to be “informative and transparent” throughout, saying the episode has been a “catalogue in how not to do it” at a time of mass course closures in the sector.

UCL insists it has ensured affected students have been able to continue their studies, with “existing supervision, assessment and examination arrangements maintained” and it has offered to extend support arrangements to 2028 in recognition that some students might take longer to complete their studies.

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The university first launched a one-year professional training diploma in educational psychology in 1946, at the time the first such course in the country.

This developed into a three-year doctorate in educational psychology which the university’s psychology and language sciences division has offered alongside a career-and-professional-development route (CPD doctorate), aimed at those already working in the field who needed to enhance their existing skills and knowledge.

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When UCL merged with the Institute of Education in 2014, becoming the biggest higher education institution in London, it continued to run the doctorate alongside a similar offering from the IoE for nearly a decade.

However, in 2023, when the Department for Education, which funds the training, decided to reduce the number of funded places in London, UCL decided it was no longer financially viable to maintain both programmes and only put forward the IoE course for support.

Documents from the time show the university considered merging the two courses but eventually decided that the UCL route would close altogether. 

The CPD doctorate had already been earmarked for winding down, as over the past 20 years, fewer people needed the top-up professional training as most now enter the profession with a doctorate anyway. 

The final cohort of students for both courses started in September 2023, with most expecting to graduate either in 2026 or 2027.

Students from both courses say their experience has been damaged by the disruption. Up to five staff face redundancy, with students fearing academics who have supported them in their studies may disappear before they complete.

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The university has also wound up contracts with staff at local authorities who supported the programme.

A staff member who has taught on the UCL programmes said: “Our profession is small, there’s only about 4,000 of us across the whole country. If you were asking where the highest-quality-calibre training of educational psychologists came from, it would be UCL. It’s the most established course. Leaders in local authorities would always respect graduates from that course.”

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The person alleged: “We’ve only just, as of [July], had the final teach-out plan revealed to staff. It was March 2023 when we first heard the training doctorate was closing and a few months before that when we found out about the CPD [course closing].”

They added: “There’s been absolutely no notice of the impact on staff, on students, on mental health – we’re meant to be psychologists. The whole closure of the course has been a catalogue of how not to do it, how not to work with people, how not to be psychologists.”

One person on an impacted UCL course said: “I’m trying to finish my thesis this year, and I’m working flat out to do that, partly because of the situation on the ground.

“I really don’t know whether my tutor who has been supporting me so far through the thesis will still be there in September. If he isn’t, what alternative arrangements might be in place?”

UCL was asked when a teach-out plan was provided to staff and students and whether it believed it was done in sufficient time. It did not provide a specific date for when those arrangements were made available but said it was developed to provide continuity and clarity and had been communicated to all staff and students affected.

A spokesperson said all arrangements including for viva procedures are to continue as expected, adding: “Throughout these changes, UCL’s priority has been to support all affected students and staff, minimise disruption to students, and ensure that affected staff are consulted with appropriately.”

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georgia.luckhurst@timeshighereducation.com