Information for students on closure of courses at Applied Business Academy
This page provides information for students affected by the closure of higher education courses at Applied Business Academy (ABA).
We will update the page with more information as it becomes available.
Information for students
Students at ABA have been told that their higher education courses will be closed.
The Department for Education instructed the Student Loans Company to suspend all tuition fee payments to ABA, until the OfS has completed its investigation into ABA. Students registered on ABA’s courses remain eligible for maintenance support payments from the Student Loans Company. The closure of ABA does not affect students’ student finance entitlement, including maintenance loan payments.
ABA’s academic partners, Leeds Trinity University and the University of Buckingham, are in touch with affected students to explain their options, including for further study.
As of Friday 27 September 2024, Applied Business Academy (ABA) has been removed from the OfS Register. ABA asked the OfS to remove it from the Register because it is no longer able to provide higher education.
What can students expect?
In this situation, all students at ABA must be given the opportunity:
- to continue with their studies at another university or college, or
- the option to end their studies and receive credit for their academic attainment to date.
Students may also be entitled to compensation for the disruption and associated costs.
ABA currently delivers courses through partnerships with two universities. Leeds Trinity University registers students studying on courses franchised to ABA. The University of Buckingham validates courses on which ABA registers its own students.
These two universities are responsible for ensuring that students can continue their studies or receive credit for their academic attainment to date. The universities are in touch with ABA students, and will continue to support them.
ABA had a partnership with the University of West London until the end of the 2023-24 academic year. Students who studied on courses delivered through that partnership can contact the University of West London for their academic records, or with any questions about resitting examinations.
We are working with ABA and its university partners to ensure they are doing everything they can to enable students to find an acceptable alternative to continue their studies.
SLC is responsible for paying tuition fees directly to colleges and universities on behalf of students. Once the student confirms which university they will study at, the university will inform SLC and tuition fees will be paid as per the normal process.
Contact with ABA
ABA’s students have been told that their courses are being closed and their options will be explained to them. We understand that current students, or those expecting to begin an ABA course, will be offered an individual guidance session with staff from either Leeds Trinity University or the University of Buckingham.
Any students who, for whatever reason, may not have received a direct communication from one of these universities should make contact as follows:
| ABA courses | University to contact |
| For students on BA (Hons) International Business registered with Leeds Trinity University |
Leeds Trinity University 0113 517 2428 (0900 – 1700, weekdays) |
|
For students on BSc (Hons) Business Management validated by University of Buckingham |
University of Buckingham 01280 827528 (from Thursday 19 September, 0900 – 1700, weekdays) |
|
For students who are completing BA (Hons) Innovation in Learning and Development (top up) validated by University of West London |
University of West London 020 8231 2473 |
|
For students completing Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) |
City & Guilds 01934 930801
|
If you have a complaint that relates to the closure of courses at Applied Business Academy, you should:
- Start by raising your concern directly with Applied Business Academy.
- If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can raise the matter with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). The OIA is an independent body that reviews student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales. Their service is free for students.
Support and advice is available if you are concerned about your mental health or wellbeing at this time.
You can contact:
- Student Minds the UK’s student mental health charity, offers lots of information on the support available for students.
If you need urgent support for yourself or a friend, there are services that can help:
- The Samaritans are open every day of the year
- Mind, the mental health charity offers support by phone or online
- Papyrus will provide confidential help and advice to young people thinking about suicide and anyone worried about a young person.
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