Questioning the value of English studies degrees is not a new phenomenon. For decades, there have been familiar lines of enquiry regarding their relevance and value in an ever-changing world. Yet in recent years these pronouncements have taken on more dramatic forms.
Last summer, news of falling interest in English Literature sparked sensationalist headlines, including “Is this the end for English lit degrees?” and “Graduate jobs target risks killing off English literature degrees.” But, beyond the headlines, what exactly do changes in student numbers mean for teaching and research in English studies? And are things as catastrophic as the headlines make out?
Concerns for the health of English disciplines are not only media fabrications. Course closures and departmental restructures are cause for genuine uncertainty among the community, while headlines, which often decontextualise considered decision-making and debates, add to unease. Yet the English studies community is fighting a complex battle across intersecting issues.
Drawing on over a decade’s worth of data and in-depth analysis, the British Academy’s new report English studies provision in UK higher education shows that tales of English studies’ death have been greatly exaggerated. Indeed, the English studies community makes a demonstrably diverse and profound impact on society.
