The University of Edinburgh plans to close 90 academic programmes to new students as of next year.
An internal briefing sent to senior staff and “internal stakeholders,” seen by The Student, unveiled the plans.
The school of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) faces the heaviest toll, losing 48 programmes.
Other affected areas include Business, Law, Divinity, and Education and Sport, with a range of courses due to be “taught out,” according to the documents. The historic Celtic and Scottish Studies department also has seven programmes facing closure.
The changes are set to take effect from autumn 2027. However, union sources with knowledge of meetings between management and staff have told The Student they believe the closures open the door to forced redundancies.
“We’re not stupid, you know. They say things like, ‘Oh, these are programme closures, they’re not redundancies,’ but we know that they’re linked. It has a degree of bad faith about it,” co-Vice President of the University College Union’s Edinburgh branch (UCUE), Marion Lieutaud, said.
She said the University was making decisions “based on how much tuition fee we can extract” from students.
While the University has reassured current students they will be able to finish their degrees, the changes mean that future students won’t be able to begin targeted programmes after September next year.
An email to one affected programme cohort, seen by this newspaper, began “I hope you have had a relaxing summer and are feeling ready to start another semester,” before informing them that their programme would be discontinued.
“Please be assured that this will not affect your studies, the support you will receive or the value of your degree,” the email read, explaining that the University “cannot be confident” the programme would be able to meet prior standards for future cohorts.
A fourth-year recipient of the notice described it as “plain insulting. What message do they think this sends us?”
Recounting scenes of fraught recent meetings in which the changes were announced to staff, Lieutaud said it was “really last minute. There was no dignity or respect for our colleagues who have put their whole lives into their work, and then they have a 20-minute meeting to have their programme closed.” She said that there was widespread anger among staff regarding the process.
Lieutaud recalled an academic breaking down in tears over mounting pressure: “this is their life’s work and now with this programme closure, they don’t know where they’re going to wind up. It’s just a really scary situation.”
Responding to questions about the choice of programme closures and consultation of staff, a university spokesperson said: “Like other institutions, Edinburgh undertakes regular evidence-based reviews of its academic portfolio to make sure it is aligned with student demand, a constantly evolving job market and other external needs.”
They said the University has a “world-leading reputation as a powerhouse of the arts, humanities and social sciences,” but conceded that to defend such a position required “conscious and sometimes difficult choices.”
The closures come as the University makes ongoing controversial efforts to reduce spending by £140 million annually, which includes aiming to cut down up to £90 million from staff salaries.
As a result, tensions between the University and staff have escalated, with union members voting to strike across five weeks, starting September 28. Fellow UCUE Vice President, Courtney Stafford-Walter, said the University had “not budged” in recent talks, though negotiations between parties remain ongoing.
Stafford-Walter said the branch was “really determined to go ahead” with the planned action, pointing to strong member backing.
A fourth year student, who was informed her textiles programme was being closed, said it was “extremely disappointing,” noting concerns over the perceived value of her education.
“It makes me feel like my degree will be worth less than it should. All of the time and effort to get into the course now feels like it’s being undermined,” she said.
She added: “Staff who have worked so hard to teach and support us over these years are now in a very difficult position. It is really sad to see.”
Photo by Mark Chan for The Student.
