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How Arts & Humanities Uni students subsidise the course costs of STEM Uni students - and why this wasn't a problem for Universities but is now

In the UK in the past Arts and Humanities students have been funding STEM student as the cost to universities of providing Arts & Humanities courses ranges from £8-12K p.a. whereas for STEM courses the cost is £10-15k.  In the past Universities didn't see this as a problem as it actually helped their finances. 

But with the proportion of students on STEM courses increasing and those on Arts on Humanities decreasing, simple maths dictates this is a growing problem for University finances.

Adding to the financial problem is the reality of reducing numbers of students attending University.

According to a recent study by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the average cost to universities of teaching a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) student is significantly higher than that of an Arts or Humanities student. While precise figures fluctuate yearly, a general estimate suggests that STEM courses can cost universities anywhere between £10,000 and £15,000 per student annually, whereas Arts and Humanities courses might range from £8,000 to £12,000.

These figures are in stark contrast to the standard tuition fee of £9,250 per year for most UK universities. While this fee applies uniformly to all students, regardless of their subject, the underlying costs vary dramatically.

This means that, in essence, Arts and Humanities students could be indirectly subsidizing the education of their STEM counterparts. The shortfall in funding for Arts and Humanities departments is a growing concern, potentially leading to cuts in programs, staff, and resources.

Critics argue that this financial imbalance distorts the higher education landscape, favoring subjects with immediate economic benefits over those that enrich cultural and intellectual life. As the debate intensifies, policymakers and universities are under pressure to find sustainable solutions that ensure the viability of all disciplines.

Sources:

• Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
• Department for Education

This post was written using 3 queries on Gemini AI, the text of which was then edited by a HI

Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

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