The University of Leicester has announced the closure of its Modern Languages and Film Studies departments, a decision confirmed on March 23, 2026, following a year-long strategic review. This move will affect nearly 300 prospective students who had their UCAS offers rescinded mid-admissions cycle.
At least 17 academic jobs are at risk due to these closures, which have raised significant concerns within the academic community. The university has stated that current students will be allowed to complete their degrees by 2029, ensuring that those already enrolled will not be abruptly affected.
The closures are part of a broader trend in UK higher education, where financial pressures are forcing institutions to prioritize courses with higher enrollment. This trend has led to fears that the East Midlands may become a ‘cold spot’ for modern language education, particularly as De Montfort University closed its language department a few years ago.
In light of these developments, the University and College Union (UCU) has coordinated 28 days of industrial action since the start of the 2025/26 academic year, reflecting the growing unrest among faculty and staff regarding the future of their programs.
Maite Usoz De La Fuente, a faculty member, expressed her dismay, stating, “For many of us, this is likely to be career-ending.” She further noted the implications for language education in the region, saying, “If Nottingham University closes their course as well as they plan to, there will be nowhere in the East Midlands to study language at a degree level.”
Dr. Joseph Choonara, another faculty member, remarked, “We’ve been fighting against this for many months now so it wasn’t surprising to hear they are going through with it.” These sentiments underscore the frustration felt by many who believe they were not given a fair chance to prevent these closures.
As the situation develops, further reviews are underway in other departments, including Chemistry, Geography, Geology, and Environment, raising additional concerns about the future of academic offerings at the university.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the potential impact on these other departments, but the current course closures have already sparked significant debate about the sustainability of higher education in the region.
