University of Leicester's Bold Move: Closing Doors on Arts and Languages

The University of Leicester has made headlines by confirming the closure of its Modern Languages and Film Studies departments, effectively halting recruitment for all degrees in these areas starting September 2026. This decision, announced as part of a broader strategic review, comes midway through the UCAS admissions cycle, leaving nearly 300 prospective students in limbo as their conditional offers are rescinded. Current students enrolled in these programs will be supported through a 'teach-out' period, allowing them to complete their degrees by 2029, but the move signals a significant shift in the institution's academic portfolio.

Modern Languages, which includes programs in French, Spanish, and other tongues, alongside Film Studies—a field exploring cinema, media production, and cultural analysis—formed about 50% of the School of Arts, Media, and Communication. These disciplines have long been pillars of humanities education, fostering critical thinking, cultural awareness, and creative skills essential in today's globalized world. The abrupt end to new intakes underscores mounting pressures on UK higher education institutions to prioritize financially viable courses amid enrollment shortfalls.

Human Impact: Students and Staff Left Reeling

For the approximately 300 students who received UCAS offers for these courses, the news is devastating. Many had pinned their future plans on studying at Leicester, a respected Russell Group university known for research excellence. Now, they must scramble to find alternative placements through UCAS Clearing or adjust their educational paths entirely, potentially delaying their studies or switching subjects. The timing exacerbates the stress, as decisions were made post-offer issuance.

Staff face equally grim prospects, with 17 academic positions slated for elimination, though some redundancies are deferred until the teach-out concludes. Lecturers like Maite Usoz De La Fuente, who has served over a decade, expressed devastation: "For many of us, this is likely to be career-ending." The closures compound ongoing consultations in Chemistry, Geography, Geology and the Environment, and professional services, threatening further job losses.

Financial Pressures Driving the Decision

At the heart of Leicester's actions is a £3.4 million operating deficit recorded at the end of the 2024/2025 academic year, improved from £8.3 million the prior year but still indicative of deeper woes. Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah highlighted in the annual report: constrained government funding, stagnant domestic tuition fees frozen since 2012 (currently £9,250 per year), rampant inflation, and over-reliance on international student fees amid visa restrictions and geopolitical tensions.

International students, who pay up to £25,000 annually, have been a lifeline, but numbers fell 6% in 2024/25, per Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data. Low enrollment in arts subjects—Modern Languages saw a 6% national decline—made these programs unsustainable, with the university citing insufficient numbers during consultations.

Union Backlash and Industrial Action

The University and College Union (UCU) at Leicester has vehemently opposed the cuts since proposals emerged in spring 2025, coordinating 28 days of strikes in 2025/26. Co-chair Dr. Joseph Choonara called the decision "absolutely appalling," warning of a "language-learning desert" in the East Midlands. Further action is planned, building on protests that drew student solidarity.

Lecturers argue their courses outperformed university metrics yet received no marketing boost despite requests. "We feel like we weren’t given a fair chance," one noted. This echoes national UCU campaigns against 'marketisation' in higher education.

Regional Ramifications in the East Midlands

The closures amplify concerns over 'cold spots' in humanities access. De Montfort University shuttered languages years ago, and the University of Nottingham suspended most modern languages and music from 2026/27. This leaves few options for aspiring linguists or film scholars locally, hindering teacher training and cultural sectors. The British Academy warns such trends bar thousands from SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts, and more) subjects regionally.

Stakeholders fear long-term damage: fewer language teachers for schools, reduced creative industry talent in a region where creatives contribute £4 billion GVA.

A National Epidemic of Arts and Humanities Cuts

Leicester's move fits a pattern: Universities of Kent axed art history and journalism in 2024; Nottingham targets 48 courses; Bristol offers voluntary severance in humanities. Over five years, nearly 50 modern languages centers closed or shrank, per The Guardian. Universities blame a 'societal shift' toward STEM.

• AI and computing surges offset humanities drops.
• 88 of 166 UK unis run redundancies/restructuring, targeting languages.
• Russell Group institutions, once immune, now vulnerable.

Declining Enrollments: The Data Behind the Shift

HESA reports language/area studies down 6% in 2024/25, humanities contracting over a decade. Total HE students fell 1% for second year, internationals -6% (postgrads harder hit). HESA data highlights policy impacts. Students favor employability-focused degrees amid £50,000+ debt fears.

(Approximate HESA figures; full datasets available via official releases.)

The Sector-Wide Financial Storm

Office for Students (OfS) warns 45% of providers face 2025/26 deficits without mitigations; 124 institutions at risk. OfS analysis cites fee caps, levy on intl fees (£3.7bn govt policy hit). Universities UK models £3.7bn funding gap. Only 14 UK unis deemed fully stable.

Solutions debated: fee hikes (Labour unfroze but levy offsets), diversification, mergers. Yet, arts bear brunt as 'low-priority'.

Looking Ahead: Implications and Pathways Forward

While cuts save short-term costs, critics argue they erode UK's soft power, creative economy (£124bn GVA), and graduate skills like adaptability. Future may see consolidation, online hybrids, or govt intervention via tuition uplift 2026/27.

For affected students: Explore transfers, related fields like media/comms elsewhere. Staff: Upskill via academic CV guides. Institutions must balance viability with mission.

Photo by Fotos on Unsplash

• Govt: Increase fees, protect intl recruitment.
• Unis: Marketing for niche courses, partnerships.
• Students: Diversify applications early.

Career Opportunities Amid Change

Arts grads thrive in media, diplomacy, tech (content, UX). Languages boost employability 20% per studies. Platforms like AcademicJobs.com list lecturer/professor roles in surviving programs. Pivot to growing fields while preserving passions.