UK universities facing language course 'cold spots' as enrolments fall and AI programs rise

A new data tool from the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows regional gaps in degree offerings across the United Kingdom. The latest figures indicate that courses in languages such as French are becoming unavailable in some regions even as artificial intelligence programs have expanded rapidly.

The data track full-time student numbers across subjects over a 12-year period. French studies declined from 9,700 in 2012/13 to 3,700 in 2023/24, while language and area studies fell from 125,900 to 80,100. German and Scandinavian courses shrank from 3,900 in 2012/13 to 1,400 in 2023/24. By contrast, artificial intelligence has surged, with 1,800 full-time students in 2012/13, dipping to 900 the following year before rising to 9,100 in 2023/24. These shifts come as universities grapple with financial deficits and have cut courses and staff in subjects with low enrollment.

In November, students and lecturers protested over the University of Nottingham's decision to suspend its modern languages and music courses, with no new students set to be enrolled beyond 2026. BBC News reported that the university described the affected courses as "unsustainable" because many had fewer than 10 students; a final decision had not yet been made, and current students on courses at risk would be supported to complete their studies.

Emma Walkers, course leader for modern languages at Bilborough Sixth Form College in Nottingham, said local options would disappear if the cuts proceeded, leaving some students with higher costs to study languages elsewhere. "Often, if a student is moving out of Nottingham, they're going to end up moving to a more expensive city," she said, highlighting the financial barriers for families. Prof René Koglbauer, former languages teacher and chair of trustees of the Association for Language Learning, warned of a potential downward spiral where regional language provision collapses and fewer pupils advance beyond GCSE. He noted that universities are increasingly offering ab initio undergraduate courses, joint honours, and non-European languages such as Arabic and Mandarin to bolster uptake, but emphasized that the regional gap remains a problem.

Experts say the issue may require different approaches, including collaboration to pool resources. Koglbauer said there may be a need for greater cross-institution cooperation to reach students in regions without local language provision. A Department for Education spokesperson said ministers want all children to have the opportunity to learn a language and that curriculum and assessment reviews would ensure students gain a diverse set of skills. Universities, the department noted, are autonomous and decide which courses to offer.

The data also reflect a shift in student behavior: more students prefer to live at home and commute to campus to control costs, which concentrates demand for certain subjects in large urban centers. Emma Walkers warned that regional language gaps could persist even if AI and other in-demand fields attract more students, underscoring the need for targeted policy and funding responses.

The higher education sector has long faced a funding squeeze, and the latest figures illustrate how portfolio adjustments can accompany shifting demand. While AI and related technical fields attract investment and student interest, the decline in language courses in some regions raises questions about how best to preserve broad access to language education as a core part of a well-rounded higher education system.