Criticism over Sheffield Hallam decision to suspend English Literature course

Sheffield Hallam University has suspended its English Literature course with claims by a lecturer it did so because the government will no longer fund degrees where 60% of students don’t end up in “highly skilled” jobs within six months. 

The university said the subject is among a small number of courses that will be suspended for the 2023/24 academic year, but has not given a reason why. It comes amid a crackdown by the government on what are deemed to be "low value" courses where less than 40% of students go on to get "highly skilled" positions.

Lecturer Dr Mary Peace criticised the decision on Twitter, adding: "When was it ever more important in our history for young people to be able to manipulate language and to understand how they are manipulated by language and stories?" 

A number of writers have since raised their concerns about the decision. Author Philip Pullman told the Guardian: “The study of literature should not be a luxury for a wealthy minority of spoilt and privileged aesthetes, but a spring of precious truth and life that every one of us is entitled to.” 

He added: “Without literature, without music and art and dance and drama, people young and old alike will perish of mental and emotional and imaginative starvation. We really do have a government of barbarians.”

A spokesperson for the university said it keeps its portfolio of courses “under constant review to ensure that they align to the latest demands from students and employers” and that the “small number of courses” which are being suspended “are predominantly driven by providing the best possible learning offer in the context of the latest application trends”. 

It said it would be offering English Literature within its "broad-based English degree" from 2023, "which will allow students to shape their own exploration of the subject across language, literature and creative writing".

The spokesperson added: “More broadly, we believe that study in the arts and humanities is hugely valuable for our wider society. Graduates in these areas go on to enjoy successful careers and have a real positive impact on our economy, health, wellbeing and education. These subjects are a vital part of our offer as a university and we will continue to provide a wide range of arts and humanities courses led by some outstanding teams of academics.”