The university of leicester course closures will see almost 300 students have their UCAS offers rescinded after the institution announced it will shut its Modern Languages and Film Studies departments. The move stops recruitment to all degrees in those subjects in the middle of the UCAS admissions cycle. University leaders cite the end of a strategic review that staff contested; the closures will also trigger job losses and a multi-year teach-out.
University Of Leicester Course Closures: Who is affected
The decision to close both departments halts recruitment to all Modern Languages and Film Studies programmes and will leave almost 300 applicants with offers that will not stand for September 2026 (ET). The Leicester University and College Union said the cuts will lead to 17 academic roles being lost, with some redundancies deferred until the current students complete a planned teach-out scheduled to end in 2029 (ET). Staff had been engaged in a prolonged strategic review process that began last year and had campaigned to keep the programmes open.
Immediate reactions from staff and union
Maite Usoz De La Fuente, Spanish lecturer, University of Leicester, described the response among staff: “I was very upset and sad but not surprised to hear about the closures. We’ve been through a process of strategic review since last spring and since then we had a sense that the university had made up its mind. ” She warned the move could be “career-ending” for some staff and said the decision also threatens the provision of language training in the region.
What led here and wider signals
The closures follow a strategic review launched last year that staff and the union contested and that prompted strikes after the review was announced in 2025 (ET). Staff concerns include the cumulative regional impact: with other institutions in the East Midlands reducing or suspending modern language provision, lecturers say the area risks becoming a “cold spot” for degree-level language study and a potential future shortfall in qualified secondary teachers. The union has also signalled proposed further cuts in other departments and professional services roles, which it says could mean additional job losses.
What happens next
University statements and union briefings indicate existing students will be allowed to complete their programmes through a teach-out that runs until 2029 (ET), while recruitment to the affected degrees has already stopped for incoming applicants. The Leicester University and College Union has flagged further proposed reductions in other schools and support roles; staff campaigners say they will continue to press for alternatives. The immediate priority for those with offers is clarity on options for September 2026 (ET) intake and for staff it is clarity on redeployment, redundancy timetables and support. The university of leicester course closures will remain a developing story as teach-out arrangements are implemented and consultations on wider proposals proceed.
