History departments in the U.K., especially in post-92 universities, are facing significant cuts, potentially leading to the subject being dominated by elite institutions, warns a report by the Royal Historical Society (RHS).
The report highlights a growing gap between the popularity of history as a subject and the job security of historians in U.K. universities.
Although history remains a popular subject for undergraduate study, with over 40,000 students pursuing it annually, there has been a decline in enrollments at the university level. However, the subject is gaining popularity in schools and among the general public.
Despite the rhetoric around declining enrollments, history graduates are shown to have strong employability and earnings in the labor market.
However, the report notes an alarming increase in the number of history departments facing cuts to staffing and degree options, causing disruption in the sector.
According to an RHS survey, 39 U.K. history departments have reported staff cuts, and 32 departments have lost history degrees or courses since 2020. Two more departments contacted the society in the past week to report consultations for further cuts.
The report highlights the implications of these changes, including the threat of redundancy for historians, reduced opportunities for teaching and research, and increasing inequality between institutions.
Post-92 universities are particularly affected, with 58% losing at least one program and 88% facing staffing cuts. This is concerning as these universities cater to first-generation and commuting students who may not be able to relocate to another institution.
With the exit of smaller providers from the sector, opportunities for studying history are diminishing, especially for students from less privileged backgrounds. This raises questions about equality of opportunity in the U.K.