Creative arts hit hardest in funding slash

words and pictures by Alex Dodds

The University of Creative Arts in Canterbury is facing a 7.8% funding cut thanks to new government action.

The university system is undergoing the biggest shake up in years with tuition fees for students tripling and London seeing some of the most volatile street protests ever seen.

Speaking to BBC Kent, UCA deputy vice chancellor Mark Hunt said the government had “favored stem subjects” such as maths and English and creative subjects all over the country had been hit hardest.

Also talking to the BBC, minister David Willets said: “"Next year will be a year of transition to a new funding regime where more teaching funding will follow the choices of students.


"We recognise the vital role that higher education plays, which is why revenue funding for teaching and research in higher education could rise by nearly 10% in cash terms by 2014-15.”

This news hasn’t gone down well with creative arts students. It’s a sensitive area issuing more funding for one course than another. How are these decisions made? Is one course deemed more important than another? Students have been reacting to this on our Facebook site.

Students from London Metropolitan University protesting against their creative arts funding cut in January

UCA student Megan Jobson said: “I think university courses should be completely equal. If I’d known the money for my course would be cut halfway through, maybe I would of thought differently.”

Lectures themselves have spoken out about the funding cuts. Many believe this could be the beginning of the end for arts and humanities as a whole and things will only get worse. 

Georgina Roberton said: “I feel like we’re being punished for doing a fun course and because we don’t read books and write as many essays.

“If anything it’s more intense because we are learning a skill that we have to constantly practice. In my opinion it’s harder!”