University revives course with 90% failure rate

A university architecture course where 90% of students failed their final exams is to be revived, it was announced today.

Only six out of 60 undergraduates at the University of Central England in Birmingham passed the BA architecture course.

The unprecedented results prompted the suspension of the course and 30 freshers who had been due to start their studies in September having to find places elsewhere.

But UCE said following an investigation into the results, the recruitment of students to the BA and diploma in architecture courses will now be resumed for entry in September 2005.

The resumption follows the adoption of an "action plan for recovery" plus the hard work of staff and support from bodies including the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The school of architecture will now become part of the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, a faculty of UCE, from August next year.

At the time, UCE's pro-vice-chancellor, Phil Walkling, said unfinished coursework and the pressures of students juggling jobs with studies contributed to the poor pass rate.