News that the University of Galway is considering discontinuing its long-established general arts degree will confirm the worst fears of those who believe the study of the humanities is being systematically marginalised. Galway’s internal report notes a significant decline in its BA degree, down 35 per cent in registrations since 2019, a trend described as “not cyclical but structural”. The university says it is at an early stage of reimagining its arts offering. Students and their families, increasingly focused on what the report calls “direct routes to employment”, are gravitating toward STEM and business courses. The experience of other EU countries, where subsidised fees have slowed the decline, suggests that money is a significant driving factor.

Source: The Irish Times March 03, 2026 21:30 UTC