In Defence of the Humanities Degree

Ruby Granger Guide 2 days ago

الوصف

Please sign this petition (it only takes 20 seconds!): https://www.change.org/p/stop-redundancies-at-the-university-of-exeter-706befbf-8195-4b87-a96c-13666e695878

Thank you again so much to all of the tutors and students who kindly contributed something to this video.

Sources Mentioned:
Pandemic and Beyond: https://pandemicandbeyond.exeter.ac.uk/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yl417g76jo

https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/newsreel/ahrc-student-led-phd-places-to-be-cut-by-60#

https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/dfe-slashes-creative-and-performing-arts-teaching-grants-for-universities

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/15/prof-evelyn-welch-arts-humanities-cuts-absolutely-tragic

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/14/university-job-cuts-humanities-social-sciences

https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/decline-and-fall-students-perspectives-on-a-level-english-at-16

https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2026/cut-in-funding-by-british-councils-threatens-arts-access

https://www.bbc.co.uk/worklife/article/20190401-why-worthless-humanities-degrees-may-set-you-up-for-life

https://ecommons.udayton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1521&context=uhp_theses.

https://www.creativedebuts.co.uk/blog/cutting-arts-funding?srsltid=AfmBOoqqkxo1Ft0bJFB63VY_DfpeYzU0f25H9XZAF44vTJ6apIokIfrf

https://action.nationalhumanitiescenter.org/what-are-humanities/

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/170/communications-and-digital-committee/news/205974/inquiry-launched-into-media-literacy/

https://libguides.exeter.ac.uk/c.php?g=727716&p=5297245

https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/284/understanding-career_paths-AHSS-graduates.pdf

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro
1:17 Exeter University: the latest victim
2:45 video outline
4:03 The value of Humanities in STEM
6:20 intrinsic value of Humanities and Literature
9:50 How Humanities are financially profitable!
12:18 the importance of critical thinking
14:25 insights from Exeter English tutors
22:45 insights from Exeter theology tutors
31:48 my experience at Exeter
33:08 Exeter University during covid
35:19 the impact of sacking tutors
37:26 why these cuts AREN'T financially necessary (a call with Dr Michael Flexer)
48:11 cutting Humanities is ideological
52:47 Exeter is a great university... as it is now!
54:02 students and alumni stand with tutors
56:50 closing thoughts