University of Leicester Closure Invalidates Hundreds of UCAS Offers
The University of Leicester has confirmed it will stop recruiting to Modern Languages and Film Studies degrees. The move affects nearly 300 applicants and risks 17 academic roles.
Offers and admissions impact
The decision falls in the middle of the UCAS admissions cycle. Nearly 300 prospective students planning to start in September 2026 will have offers rescinded.
Campaigners warn this action could reduce access to language and film study across the region. Some have described the change as effectively invalidating a large number of UCAS places.
Job losses and teach-out arrangements
Leicester University and College Union reported 17 academic posts will be cut. Some departures will be deferred until current students complete studies in 2029.
Union officials say further reductions are under consideration in Geography, Geology & the Environment, and the School of Chemistry. Professional Services roles that support teaching and research may also face cuts.
Union action and response
The union has been in dispute with university management since the strategic review began in spring 2025. It coordinated 28 days of industrial action during the 2025/26 academic year.
Branch co-chair Dr Joseph Choonara said staff have fought the proposals for months. He warned the closures will shrink options for students in the East Midlands and affect university staff careers.
Voices from the departments
Filmogaz.com spoke with Maite Usoz De La Fuente, a Spanish lecturer in modern languages. She said the announcement was devastating and could be career-ending for some staff.
Maite has worked at the university for more than a decade. She said regional language provision is already fragile after recent closures elsewhere.
Regional consequences for language study
Staff highlighted moves at other institutions. The University of Nottingham plans to suspend modern languages programmes from 2026/27.
De Montfort University closed its languages department several years ago. Together, these changes risk creating a gap in degree-level language teaching across the East Midlands.
Next steps and statements
The closures follow a contested strategic review launched in 2025. Staff and unions campaigned to keep the programmes open throughout the process.
Filmogaz.com approached the University of Leicester for comment. No formal response was published at the time of reporting.
