In 2025 the university course with the lowest acceptance rate in the UK was maths and statistics at Oxford University, with a mere 2.3% out of 1.9k applicants being accepted. Similar courses with low acceptance rates include computer science, economics and maths; the only equally competitive writing oriented is law. More broadly, applications for all humanities degrees are precipitously declining. Why is this? Why is there a trend of declining application for humanities degrees?

The most common response to this question is that humanities are not seen as ‘real’ subjects. The prevalence of this sentiment has only grown in the last decade: the phrase ‘Mickey mouse degrees’ is increasingly used to describe degrees such as history or english which lack an obvious pathway into the workplace. no clear pathway, aswell as less respected connotations. Nowadays there has been a drop of nearly 20% in students taking English literature A Level. This can be attributed to certain societal assumptions on the ‘worthlessness’ of these degrees. This can lead to pushing people to go to university and specifically for degrees that they do not wish to go to.

This is especially prevalent in the RGS. Out of the last 10 years of graduates, only an average of 20 people per year go on to study a humanities degree. This shows how especially at the RGS people are wary of the job prospects that could follow a humanities degree, as these jobs are typically perceived as lower skill and lower paying. This however shows how students are losing sight of the reason for studying at university. The true reason for studying at university should not be for money and ROI on the tuition fees; they should instead be focusing on attempting to attain greater knowledge of the subject you are truly passionate about. This is shown by a quote from the dead poets society ‘Medicine, law, business, engineering these are all noble pursuits, necessary to sustain life. But poetry, art, beauty, love this is what we stay alive for’. While STEM degrees have their place in life, in order to facilitate the true meaning of life other paths must be explored, both pathways should therefore work together equally. This is shown as many notable STEM discoveries are facilitated or inspired by humanities. Einstein’s theory of relativity, for example, is directly influenced by David Hume. This shows how both STEM and humanities must work together in order to help our society.

While many people might claim that humanities degrees are becoming less popular because people are ‘waking up’ and not wanting to go into debt for a degree that doesn’t guarantee a job, this is a corrupted way of thinking. You shouldn’t be going to university just to attain a high paying job, you should instead go to explore a subject that you want to learn more about.