Canterbury Christ Church University’s decision to discontinue their English literature degrees has stirred up quite a bit of debate, but most of the discussions seem to miss the mark. Essentially, the university has indicated that interest in studying English literature at a degree level has significantly dwindled, making the programs unsustainable. This brings up a poignant question: if you can’t dive into the world of Chaucer and Marlowe in Canterbury, where can you?
This scenario isn’t unique to Canterbury. There’s been a noticeable drop in English literature A-levels, slumping from 83,000 students in 2013 to just 54,000 in 2023. This downward trend is evident in universities as well, although exact numbers are difficult to pin down due to the various forms English studies take, like creative writing and linguistics. Humanities, in general, seem to be losing their charm, with only 38% of students enrolling in these courses in the 2021/22 academic year, a stark decline from nearly 60% back in the 2003/04 to 2015/16 period.
The rise in tuition fees and the pressure to choose degrees that promise a return on investment likely play significant roles in this decline. Additionally, financial strain on universities has forced many to enact deep budget cuts — for instance, Hull recently had to axe its renowned chemistry department. More troubling, however, is the pervasive shutdown of arts and humanities departments, affecting institutions like Goldsmiths, Oxford Brookes, and Surrey, leading to large numbers of academic staff losing their jobs.
English literature seems like an easy target for these cutbacks. It’s not as appealing to study works like “Beowulf” now that students shoulder the cost of their education. On top of that, critics often point to Michael Gove’s 2013 curriculum reforms, which emphasized content-heavy courses evaluated through end-of-year exams, as a contributing factor. Over the years, several conservative education ministers have championed science and technology fields while casting doubt on the job prospects for arts graduates.
There’s an inherent value in studying literature. Virginia Woolf, who once lamented her father’s refusal to send her to university, viewed books as a portal to self-transcendence. University should foster rational exploration and intellectual curiosity, not simply churn out functionally useful individuals. Unfortunately, tuition fees have somewhat commercialized the experience. Academic programs should encourage thorough analysis of texts instead of just surface-level understanding.
The news from Canterbury coincided with a concerning report from the National Literacy Trust, showing that only 35% of young people aged 8 to 18 now read for pleasure — a sharp drop of nearly nine percentage points from the previous year. Reading habits are declining, the gender gap is widening, and issues such as social media’s pervasive influence, library closures, and reduced attention spans are partly to blame. This decline poses the question: would classic novels like “Our Mutual Friend” hold up in today’s fast-paced society? While some educators propose replacing Dickens with content about social media, it’s worth remembering Evelyn Waugh’s satirical jab: “Up to a point, Lord Copper.”
The closure of Canterbury’s English literature course is a cause for concern. Universities are in a dire state, and the newly formed government faces a monumental challenge in stabilizing the higher education sector. This goes beyond institutional shortcomings; it’s a cultural shift that threatens to deprive future generations of the critical thinking, empathy, and intellectual depth that literature nurtures. Hemingway aptly noted, “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” Depending on Instagram influencers has its limits. We still need our literary friends and the insights they bring.
