Opinion with Dr Robert Marsden

The Office for Students (OfS) has announced a 50% cut in its contribution per head for Performing Arts and Media Studies students for 2021–22. Certain specialist providers, including numerous conservatoires of theatre and music, actually share a £10 million increase in funding between them. These include the University of the Arts, London, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and The National Film and Television School amongst the others who live in the TRAC Peer Group F groupings of universities. Fundamentally, for every other Higher Education Institute not considered a specialist provider, funding is moved away from the ‘high-cost’ courses towards STEM subjects, and those deemed more likely to produce graduates who can support the rebuilding of a post-pandemic economy.