Philosophy departments are closing in Britain: Dundee and Hertfordshire

Decisions by two universities in the United Kingdom to close or phase out their philosophy programmes have revived concern about the subject's future in higher education.

Dundee: from 2027#

Under a savings plan intended to close a serious budget deficit, the University of Dundee proposes to withdraw philosophy as a standalone undergraduate degree from 2027. The university has already reduced staff through voluntary redundancy; suspending the philosophy, mathematics and languages programmes is also on the table.

The objection: "the only one in Scotland"#

The proposal has produced a petition launched by students, academics and supporters. At the centre of the objection is what makes the department distinctive: Dundee hosts the internationally recognised Scottish Centre for Continental Philosophy and is the only programme in Scotland specialising in European rather than largely Anglo-American philosophy. Supporters also point to the department's student satisfaction scores and its outreach work with local schools.

Hertfordshire is closing too#

The University of Hertfordshire is closing its philosophy undergraduate programme outright. Taken together, the two decisions show how exposed philosophy has become to financial pressure in British higher education.

What makes the picture striking is the contrast: technology companies are hiring people with philosophy training while universities close philosophy departments.