Birmingham City University (BCU) faces criticism after announcing plans to close its recently launched MA in Black Studies and Global Justice, a move that follows the termination of the institution’s undergraduate Black Studies program in 2024. The decision has prompted concerns about the diminishing presence of Black Studies within UK higher education and the potential impact on academic staff.

More than 100 academics, writers, and activists worldwide have signed an open letter condemning the closure, highlighting the potential erosion of a field seen as vital for addressing issues of race, justice, and institutional discrimination. Among those affected are five Black staff members, including Professor Kehinde Andrews, a prominent figure in the development of BCU’s Black Studies programs.

Andrews described the closure decision as abrupt and lacking transparency. He stated that he and four colleagues were summoned to a meeting on short notice, where they were informed that the MA course would be discontinued following a decision made in February. According to Andrews, the program, which began only earlier this year, was cut without prior consultation with either staff or students, and no equality impact assessment had been completed. He characterized the university’s actions as “deeply flawed” and suggested they might be discriminatory, asserting that the move represents an attempt to erase Black scholarship.

The closure has drawn attention amid a broader financial crisis affecting UK universities, where budget constraints have led to widespread program cuts. Critics argue these reductions disproportionately affect disciplines focused on race and diversity, potentially reinforcing Eurocentric curricula and limiting spaces for confronting structural racism in academia.

One of the letter’s signatories, Professor Kalwant Bhopal, director of the Centre for Research in Race and Education at Birmingham University, warned that the decision signals a retreat from inclusive knowledge production. Bhopal stated that such closures risk marginalizing Black students and academics, who rely on these programs to challenge systemic racism within higher education settings.

BCU officials attributed the course closures to low enrollment figures, noting that only eight students were currently registered in the MA program. The university confirmed that affected students will be able to complete their studies and emphasized that a consultation process with impacted staff members is underway. The goal of this process is to assess the effects of the closures and explore options to minimize job losses among those employed on the affected courses.