The article raises the question as to whether this move to spread funded studentships equally but thinly will weaken arts research. In the subject group encompassing design, creative and performing arts, these institutions educate just over 5 per cent of all UK PhD students. However, they account for nearly 10 per cent of all BAME PhD students in this field. Moreover, that proportion has been rising steadily since 2015-16 as the number of BAME PhD students at these institutions has nearly tripled. These figures challenge the idea that only large research-intensives can support meaningful arts research at doctoral level.

Source: The Times May 26, 2025 23:02 UTC