STUDENTS fear they will not qualify after four years of work because their university proposes ending their course.

The University of Sussex has held a consultation with pharmacy students over the last few weeks to discuss its plan to stop taking students in the next academic year.

Leona Asgarpour, 20, a first year pharmacy student, said if the plan goes ahead, it could “devalue” the course and put them at risk of graduating without accreditation.

She said: “I know it is in the consultation phase but the fact that this is public has already tarnished the degree. It makes out that our course has bad teaching and is not well respected, which it should be.”

Ms Asgarpour was shocked when the consultation was announced on October 9, the day the first instalment of her tuition fees was deducted. She said: “This can’t just be a coincidence. I now feel officially trapped with no opportunity to move or drop out.

“We have worked so hard towards this and the idea that we might not officially graduate as pharmacists to work in the UK is horrifying.

“The majority of the students have said this consultation is affecting their mental health. We are feeling so anxious about what is to come and there has been no support offered to us.

“We suggested organising counselling for students that are particularly stressed about this and have exams on at the moment but nothing has been done.

“The university have proposed meetings but always suggest times that students are rarely available, and even when we do have meetings they don’t listen to us or answer our questions.”

Student Dhwani Shah said: “I’m 17 and I’ve moved away from home in India alone without my parents. To have this news just as I began this course has devastated me.”

A university spokesman said demand to study pharmacy had been low for some time. He added: “Our students are our highest priority and a lot of consideration has gone into support for those currently studying pharmacy.

“We are committed to ensuring continuation of the high level of education for the course regardless of the outcome of this consultation.

“Should the university ultimately decide to close the course to new entrants, we will be fully supporting our existing pharmacy students, including teaching out the course and supporting them into the workplace or further study.

“The university is also continuing to work towards accrediting the course with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

“We know this is a difficult time for everyone involved. Our guiding principle has been to ensure we conduct the consultation and any resulting decision with as little impact as possible on existing students.”