UK: Gov’t funding for higher ed cut 40%; arts, humanities, social sciences threatened

by E Wayne Ross on October 20, 2010

Times Higher Education: Fears made flesh: only STEM teaching grants spared CSR scythe

Government funding for higher education is to be cut by 40 per cent over four years, suggesting that public funding for teaching in the arts, humanities and social sciences may come to an end.

The Comprehensive Spending Review unveiled today includes a reduction in the higher education budget of £2.9 billion – from £7.1 billion to £4.2 billion – by 2014-15.

The Treasury says in a statement that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which oversees higher education, will “continue to fund teaching for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects”.

However, no mention is made of other subjects.