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Southampton Institute has cancelled a part-time construction degree, leaving 32 students with no prospect of completing their course and no legal redress.

The institute says in its prospectus that it has the right to close a course if there is a compelling reason. In this case, lack of demand. The institute had hoped to enrol 30 students this year on its part-time BSc (Hons) construction economics degree - but only six applied. Plans to cancel only one year of the course were abandoned when a key member of staff left suddenly.

Students are given a number of options, including a correspondence course and quantity surveying courses at other universities. The course is accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and students will be given credit for the work they have so far completed.