College ‘will entrench inequality’

The launch of the New College of Humanities, which plans to charge £18,000 annual fees, has been described by the University and College Union (UCU) as further proof that the government’s university funding plans will entrench inequality within higher education. The college is to be run as a “for- profit” institution to compete with Oxford and Cambridge.

The UCU also points out that virtually all state funding for arts, humanities and social sciences has been cut and warns that the government’s failure to protect the subjects would stop all but the wealthiest from accessing them.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “While many would love the opportunity to be taught by the likes of AC Grayling and Richard Dawkins, at £18,000 a year it seems it won’t be the very brightest but those with the deepest pockets who are afforded the chance. The launch of this college highlights the government’s failure to protect art and humanities.”