An editorial in The Guardian warns that humanities departments are under threat as universities seek cost savings amid funding pressures. The piece highlights concerns over the decline of reading and the impact of cuts on social sciences, humanities and arts (Shape) subjects.
Growing Anger Over Cuts
Analysis of 2024 data for The Guardian found nearly 4,000 job cuts in Shape subjects, with all but 110 in non-Russell Group universities that recruit more disadvantaged students. Exeter plans to cut 150 full-time posts, and Nottingham expects to become the first Russell Group university to withdraw all its modern foreign language degrees.
Emergency for All Subjects
Prof Susan J Smith, president of the British Academy, described the situation as “an emergency, threatening all subjects”, and singled out the problem of “cold spots” where some disciplines risk disappearing. She highlighted the negative effects of fragmented decision-making, noting that departments are cultural resources and repositories of knowledge, not just cost centres.
Student Choices and Policy
The editorial argues that student choices are partly driven by changes further down the education system. The rising popularity of Stem subjects is partly due to Conservative policy promoting them, while the fall in teenagers opting for literature is linked to an unimaginative GCSE curriculum. An expected £100m cut to teaching grants and an international student levy mean the financial squeeze will continue.
Universities make their own decisions, but ministers must be upfront about constraints. Standing up for the value of literature and the humanities ought not to be left to famous novelists, the editorial concludes.
