By Shola Adenekan

Students who were admitted to a leading university are being asked to transfer to a less prestigious one.

Students are being contacted about the course change

The 40 students were offered places at University College London (UCL) to study the foot care subject of "podiatry" - but have now been told to go to the University of East London weeks before the new academic session.

UCL said that it regretted the withdrawal of the NHS-funded degree from its school in the London Foot Hospital.

It blamed problems in negotiating funding with the north-east London NHS workforce development confederation. The confederation has fully funded the programme in the past and was expected to co-fund it with UCL from September.

The University of East London is not so far accredited to run the course and UCL teaching staff, who are also being asked to transfer, vowed to protest against the development.

Sean Wallis, a representative of UCL Association of University Teachers says lecturers are opposed to the move because it will invariably affect the quality of service they can offer to students and patients.

"We are opposed to the ridiculous timescale, which unfortunately suggests that a lot of problems will follow any transfer," he said.

"The unions have not been properly consulted, and although staff were informed of decisions that had already been made, staff had no input to the bidding process whatsoever. So you would expect staff to be suspicious of any proposal."

'Short notice'

He said it was about value for money in the NHS and the future of podiatry in the UK, as well as proper consultation and accountability when changes were made.

He added: "It is also about whether the priority for HE now is simply student numbers, and the quality and resources available for their education is not considered an issue."

The teaching staff said they did not believe that an alternative higher education provider was in a position to maintain the quality of provision that UCL and the Royal Free and University College Medical School currently enjoyed.

Chris Middleton, a spokesman for healthcare regulator, the Health Professions Council, agreed.

"It is a shame that a course at a premier university is moving at a very short notice," he said. "We are not denigrating the University of East London but we are concerned about the effect on staff and students."

Middleton warned that if the University of East London failed to secure accreditation before the students completed their studies they would not be able to practise as chiropodists and podiatrists or belong to a professional body.

However, the University of East London says it is ready to run the course as planned.

A spokesman said: "Since 1 July, when were informed that our joint bid had been successful, we have been working closely with the NHS North East London Workforce Development Consortium UCL, Camden Primary Care Trust, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and the Health Professions Council to prepare the course programme, teaching facilities and resources, secure accreditation and approval, and engage with prospective students and staff.

Reaching students

"We are also working on curriculum development in partnership with the University of Brighton, which already runs an approved, accredited and successful degree programme."

He said the university had been unable to contact applicants directly until last week, as it had not had access to their details.

Over the past seven days it had been in contact with many of the applicants via a helpline set up by the NHS North East London Workforce Development Consortium.

"Jacqui Potter, subject area co-ordinator in health sciences at UEL, has spoken personally with the applicants, the majority of whom have expressed their reassurance and are looking forward to joining the course.

"A formal letter with course details will be sent out to all prospective students by the end of this week."

The university was looking forward to welcoming the new students and confident that the degree course would provide them with an excellent, professionally accredited and approved training.

The university advises any prospective students who have not yet been in touch to contact its Health and Biosciences helpdesk on 020 8223 4435.