Statement on challenges facing higher education and the impact on International Studies

BISA is deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in UK higher education and the serious threat it poses to our discipline. We are advocating on behalf of the discipline, and in addition to our recent open letter to the UK Government, which we also sent to the major UK newspapers, we outline here our position and what else we are doing to respond to these challenges. We encourage our members to write to your MPs and have provided a customisable template to use towards the bottom of this page.

Across the UK, the higher education sector is undergoing an intense period of financial strain. These changes threaten the very fabric of the academic ecosystem that has sustained the UK’s reputation for world-leading research, high-quality teaching, and global engagement, as well as its role as an important motor for the UK economy.

International Studies, as a discipline, is particularly vulnerable to these pressures - despite being central to the health of democracy, an informed citizenry, and a skilled workforce. Our graduates go on to careers across public, private, and third sectors, equipped with vital skills in critical thinking, intercultural understanding, policy literacy, and digital fluency. A recent British Academy report highlights that enrolments in Politics and International Studies continue to rise, and that our graduates achieve above-average earnings. Yet, in this current climate, many departments face significant cuts. Academic jobs are at risk, and there is increasing concern about the emergence of geographical ‘cold spots’ that could restrict access to Politics and International Studies education across the UK.

This is not simply an internal matter for universities. Scholars in our field produce research of international significance, engage in public debate, and collaborate globally on pressing challenges such as climate change, peace and security, and human rights. Our discipline is central to the development of future leaders, diplomats, analysts, and active citizens.

Further pressure comes from recent government proposals on immigration policy, including significant increases in visa fees and a new levy on international student income. These measures risk further exacerbating the financial crisis in the sector and undermining the UK’s ability to attract the international talent on which the strength of our universities, and our discipline in particular, depends. International students contribute an estimated £41.9 billion to the UK economy (updated latest figure). That they choose to study in the UK is testament to the high regard in which our universities are held. These new barriers risk long-term damage to this reputation and to the financial sustainability of our institutions. We very much share the view put forward in a recent statement on the immigration white paper from the Development Studies Association that it ‘sends an unwelcoming message that undermines the UK’s reputation as a global knowledge hub’ and echo the recent statement from Universities UK that the government  must ‘think carefully’ about the risks such a levy poses to funding and the global appeal of the UK as a study destination.

What is BISA doing?

At BISA, we are actively responding to these challenges. We have recently co-ordinated with the Political Studies Association (PSA) and The University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) to write to the Minister of Higher Education and express our concerns.

In addition to this, over the past couple of years, we have supported colleagues at institutions under threat by writing to senior university leadership - often in coordination with fellow learned societies such as PSA, UACES and BRISMES. These letters, developed in consultation with local academics, reflect the specific circumstances of each case. While some communications remain confidential at the request of departments, we have also made public statements and will continue to do so where appropriate. If you are at an institution facing threats of job losses in International Studies, you may wish to speak with your unit head or the BISA leadership about public statements and/or letters to university senior leaders.

We have recently launched a joint mentoring initiative with PSA to support Heads of Department navigating the complex and uncertain landscape of university restructuring and funding cuts. We will also continue to collaborate with organisations such as the British Academy to advocate for the value of Politics and International Studies in the long term.

We recognise that there are limits to what professional associations can achieve in the face of systemic challenges. Letters and statements do not always reverse decisions. Nonetheless, BISA remains committed to defending our discipline, to standing in solidarity with our members, and to working collaboratively across the sector to promote a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving higher education system.

What needs to happen next?

We join others in calling on the Government to:

• Identify meaningful solutions to the financial challenges facing the sector - including through its current review of post-16 Education in England and the current spending review
• Reassess the proposed immigration levy and visa fee increases in light of their likely impact on universities
• Engage with professional associations and learned societies to develop a sustainable long-term strategy for UK higher education.

We encourage BISA members to write to your MPs and raise your concerns about challenges facing the higher education sector. To this end, we have prepared a template that can be adapted. Find out who your MP is.

This is a pivotal moment. Decisions made now will shape the future of higher education and the discipline of International Studies for years to come. We are committed to continue to advocate for our members and our discipline, and we welcome ideas and engagement from across the community as we navigate these challenges together.

For individual departments that are facing issues, please encourage your Head of Department to get in touch directly via office@bisa.ac.uk