Cold spots: Mapping inequality in SHAPE provision in UK higher education
This British Academy report reveals that many parts of the UK are becoming subject cold spots – areas with no provision in a subject within a commutable distance. These are often in rural, coastal or historically underserved regions – where many SHAPE subjects are simply unavailable.
Key findings
More than half of young UK students study locally, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds particularly likely to stay close to home. Yet in many regions, students risk losing access to vital SHAPE subjects. The loss of regional provision reduces student choice and deepens barriers to opportunity, especially for the most disadvantaged.
Parts of the North, South West and East of England, as well as large areas of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are particularly affected by cold spots in higher education.
Modern Foreign Languages have the largest cold spots in the UK – the number of young UK undergraduates in subjects like French, German and Spanish has nearly halved since 2011 – with Linguistics, Anthropology and Classics showing similar declines. If current trends continue, subjects like English, History and Drama could follow.
Cold spots are most pronounced in courses with below-average entry tariffs (students’ qualifications on entry). Cuts to lower-tariff provision –often offered by teaching-focused institutions serving less mobile, commuter and disadvantaged students – are limiting access to many SHAPE subjects. Given the strong link between socioeconomic background and prior attainment, cuts to lower-tariff provision directly impact opportunities for disadvantaged young people.
The report is part of the British Academy’s Mapping SHAPE project, launched in 2024 in response to a growing crisis in UK higher education. The project investigates how subject provision is changing, how regional access has changed over time, and what this means for students, staff and universities’ ability to generate economic, social, intellectual and cultural impact. The project also explores possible solutions.
Our recommendations
To secure fair, equitable and robust access to higher education across the UK, the British Academy recommends:
- Higher education regulators should monitor subject provision through an ‘at risk’ regional subject register and funding for ‘at risk’ subjects.
- Universities in each UK nation and region should work together to find opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research and services.
- The government should issue clear guidance on how far higher education providers can collaborate without breaching competition law.
Explore the data
