Degree where 67% dropped out in first year

MORE than half of university students are dropping out of some degrees in their first year, figures reveal.

At one university, 67 per cent of freshers withdrew from a marketing course despite paying thousands of pounds in tuition fees.

Last night Universities Minister Jo Johnson ordered institutions to urgently review their worst-performing degrees.

The figures, uncovered by Sky News, will raise concerns that students do not feel they are getting value for money.

Mr Johnson said: ‘I urge these universities to take action and look urgently at these courses to ensure that students and the taxpayer are receiving value for money for their investment in higher education.’

Sky News asked universities for the top three courses with the highest dropout rates.

At Wrexham University 67 per cent of students dropped out of a degree in marketing and consumer psychology last year. The university pointed out that the number of students was small and therefore a few dropouts led to a high percentage.

At Middlesex University, 28.5 per cent left a BA in business management. At the University of East London, the dropout rate for a BSc in computer games development was 58 per cent. Meanwhile, 59 per cent left a BA in film, media and music at London Metropolitan University.

John Blake, of the Policy Exchange think-tank, said: ‘These dropouts raise serious questions about the value and quality of some of these courses – and about the advice provided to those entering university.’

Students should be sorted into Harry Potter-style houses in halls of residences to help them settle in, according to a report. Undergraduates should also be offered relaxation classes, the Higher Education Policy Institute proposals said.

But Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, criticised the ideas, saying: ‘I think we can overdo the mollycoddling of young people.’