‘Alarming’ fall in students puts theology degrees at risk

THEOLOGY and religious studies are at risk of disappearing from universities, a report has warned, as figures show that the number of students has almost halved in six years.

More than 14,000 were enrolled in 2011-12, but that figure fell to 7,585 by 2017-18, according to a study by the British Academy. The same period saw an increase in the number of students taking philosophy courses, however.

Prof Diarmaid Macculloch, an expert in church history at the University of Oxford and vice-president of the British Academy, described the figures as “alarming”.

“I am extremely concerned about the drop in such a short period, it is really very alarming,” he said. “The problem starts at school. Teachers are not directing people in this important direction and not seeing the value in theology and religious studies.”

The decline could not be explained by subject choices at school, the report said, because A-level entries in religious education had increased in the past six years, more than doubling in England and Wales between 2003 and 2017. But there had been a downward trend in applications and enrolment of undergraduate students from 2012 onwards.

“If this trend continues, [the] provision will come under serious threat at many institutions and the department closures and mergers, which have already started, will likely continue,” the report added.

The British Academy, which promotes humanities and social sciences, said it would work with the theology and religious studies community to “assess the vulnerability” of the subject and “ensure a sustainable future”.

The report also examined the characteristics of academics in the fields. It found staff were predominantly male, as well as older, on average, than those in other humanities departments.

Prof Roger Kain, vice-president of research and higher education policy at the British Academy, said: “If more ethnically and gender-diverse groups do not rise through the ranks, there is a danger that these highly relevant disciplines disappear from our universities.”

The figures included all higher education students taking courses.