University "cold spots" are developing in some parts of the country, new data analysis suggests, with courses in some subjects no longer available to students in certain regions.
The new data tool, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) on Tuesday, showed a sharp decline in students taking French and other language courses in recent years.
But courses in other subjects, like artificial intelligence, showed a rapid rise over the same time period.
Universities have cut courses with low levels of enrolment with the sector facing growing financial challenges, while the government has announced yearly increases in tuition fees to help universities cope with the shortfalls.
The data published by Hesa showed the number of full-time students on courses in French studies had decreased from 9,700 in the 2012/13 academic year, to 3,700 by 2023/2024.
The number of those doing courses in language and area studies also decreased over that period, from 125,900 to 80,100.
The number of full-time students doing German and Scandinavian courses was at 1,400 in 2023/24, down from 3,900 in 2012/13.
But studies in artificial intelligence have skyrocketed over that 12-year period, with 1,800 full-time students in 2012/13, which dipped to just 900 the following year, but has since surged to 9,100 in 2023/24.
Universities grappling with financial deficits have cut courses and staff roles in courses with low student numbers.
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.
Image credit @Heidi Booth / BBC.
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The article was first published by the BBC on 16th December.