The University of Nottingham has confirmed plans to discontinue several music, language and arts degrees, sparking outrage from present and past students.
The decision has reignited discussions around the role of creativity in higher education and highlights the vulnerability of arts in the UK’s market-driven university system.
The university announced that the cuts were due to: “low demand from prospective students, declining populations on the courses and low research income – meaning that they are less financially viable for us to maintain.”
They will suspend 16 courses in total including child and mental health nursing, education, modern languages and music.
Students currently on these courses will continue their studies, but foundation year students and prospective students will be forced to choose a different course.
Lucy Smith, 19, a current undergraduate BA Education student from the University of Nottingham said: “My initial reaction is disappointment that the university has chosen to value certain subjects over others.
“In doing this they may have impacted how future employers view these degrees as they have been disregarded by their own university.”
Lucy shone light on the impact to the wider community of students, adding: “It will only place STEM subjects on a pedestal, disregarding a large number of students who thrive in artistic subjects.
“On top of this, it pushes the narrative that STEM subjects are the ones that are important or can get you a job, pushing students into the corporate world all while leaving the creative subjects behind.”
Cutting creative courses risks causing skill shortages in key industries, while the loss of education and nursing programmes could create serious gaps in vital public services. These decisions underscore the broader impact university course closures can have beyond campus, affecting sectors that rely on a steady pipeline of trained professionals.
The cuts also reflect a broader national trends of the de-prioritisation of creative subjects for a preference of STEM degrees. This has been referred to as an ‘assault on arts’ by the government.
A recent report by the Creative Industry Policy and Evidence Centre found a 57% drop in creative subject enrolment in England between 2014 and 2023. This comes after the government announced a squeeze on funding for creative arts courses at English universities.
This is particularly troubling when so many employers now recognise that arts and humanities graduates bring the very skills – creativity, adaptability and critical thinking – that will be essential in an AI-driven future.
Fourth year Spanish and International Media and Communications student Grace Baranowski said: “Hearing the news of the proposal to close the department of languages and cultures was utterly devastating.
“These degrees have shaped me and my peers into who we are today; curious, expressive and culturally intelligent individuals.
“The study of languages is far more than translation and spoken word, it is the appraisal of the arts, and an insight into the beautiful and diverse world we live in.
“The cuts that UoN propose make me question their motives and how important they deem their community, a ‘global’ university cannot keep its title by eradicating the department that keeps the institution globally connected.”
As a past University of Nottingham student myself, having graduated this summer, the discontinuation of such vital courses is saddening news. I know many people who have studied the courses being cut and their experiences were nothing short of transformative.
Losing these courses isn’t just about reducing departments, it’s about taking away opportunities to have a better understanding of the world.
This decision feels like a step backwards for both the university itself and creative education as a whole. It suggests that the arts are seen as dispensable rather than essential. Continuing down this path risks silencing the next generation of voices that will shape culture and enrich communities.
The backlash the university has received since announcing its plans has been extensive, and it is still growing. Students and the wider public won’t stay silent while creative education is dismantled, which will hopefully push universities to rethink their priorities.
It is imperative that universities shift the focus from immediate financial pressures to the long-term value of the arts in shaping vibrant communities.
To read more about what can be done, follow the student led campaign on Instagram @saveuonmfl to stay updated. You can also sign the petition to save the modern languages department – every signature counts.
Petition: https://c.org/Vy2kYZjNnS
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