HEFCE reports drop in uptake of Modern Languages
A recent report by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) shows a sharp decline in the number of applicants to study modern languages in higher educaton. Though numbers have been in decline since 2002, with the exception of two one year surges in the academic years 2005-2006 and 2009-2010, numbers of entrants are now at the lowest they have been in more than a decade. Numbers in the academic year 2012-2013 fell by nearly 4,000 in one year to 12,140 applicants; a drop of 25% from the previous year. In comparison, there were 21,330 appliants to modern language courses in the academic year 2002-2003.
However, it is not just languages which are experiencing falling entrants rates. All subjects, including STEM subjects, have experienced varying degrees of decline in the number of applicants. To view the full report, please click here.