Full Breakdown
Edinburgh University’s restructuring plan targets Scottish and Celtic studies, sparking student and staff protests
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Programme closures and a £140 million savings drive
The University of Edinburgh will close a suite of undergraduate programmes to new admissions, with the last cohort graduating in 2027. Affected courses include Celtic; Celtic and Scottish Literature; Celtic and Archaeology; Celtic and English Language; Scottish Ethnology; Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies; and Scottish Ethnology and English Language. In total, 48 programmes within the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures will be “taught out,” while 90 programmes across the university are slated for closure as part of a restructuring effort aimed at delivering £140 million in savings.
Background & Context
The cuts are part of an “Academic Size and Shape” exercise that began months ago. External consultants from PA Consulting were first engaged in April to review the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and have since expanded their remit to the Colleges of Science and Engineering and of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. University officials cite low student uptake, duplication of content and newly introduced minimum enrolment thresholds (at least 20 postgraduate or 30 undergraduate students for SHAPE programmes) as primary drivers.
Data & Statistics
- Programme count: 90 total closures, including 48 in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.
- Financial target: £140 million in projected savings.
- Enrolment thresholds: Minimum of 20 postgraduate or 30 undergraduate students for SHAPE programmes.
- Key dates:
- 19 August – anticipated approval of the closures.
- 2 September – university-wide email explaining the criteria.
- 28 September – UCU plans five weeks of strike action.
Official Statements & Responses
University leadership frames the restructuring as a “refresh” of the curriculum.
On-the-Ground Reports
Students reported heightened anxiety and a sense of alienation on campus.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I feel like these cuts also signify just a larger institutional disdain towards the humanities in general,” — Mr Grant, Scottish Society president
What’s Next
The university will send an explanatory email on 2 September. Formal approval is expected on 19 August; if approved, the UCU will begin a five-week strike on 28 September while negotiations continue. Further restructuring proposals for the Colleges of Science and Engineering and of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine remain pending.