After 12 years, University of West London removed from ‘at risk’ list

The University of West London, formerly Thames Valley University, was informed last week by the Higher Education Funding Council for England that it was no longer considered to be “at higher risk” of financial failure.

The notification comes just six months after Peter John, West London’s vice-chancellor, told Times Higher Education that he hoped the institution would have made it off the list within two years.

In a statement, Professor John says: “This is a wonderful achievement for the university and it is testament to the hard work and dedication of my colleagues over the last four years. I am very proud of everyone here at the University of West London.”

Hefce assesses the financial health of universities on an annual basis, although it can re-assess institutions during the course of a year if its circumstances change.

The decision to remove West London from the “at risk” list follows such a re-assesment.

The university, which changed its name in May, was formed from a collection of colleges, including Ealing College of Higher Education, Thames Valley College of Higher Education, the London College of Music and Queen Charlotte's College of Health Care Studies.

It achieved university status a year after becoming the Polytechnic of West London in 1991.

john.gill@tsleducation.com