The Campaign for Mathematical Sciences is deeply concerned to learn that Birkbeck, University of London will no longer offer undergraduate maths degree courses and has closed its mathematics department.
Despite Birkbeck’s rich tradition of the mathematical sciences and statistics, significant cuts to teaching staff were made last year. CaMS warned the university and the Government that this was likely to make the department untenable. Regrettably, these cuts were indeed the beginning of the end for maths at Birkbeck.
As London's only specialist provider of evening higher education, Birkbeck has a unique and crucial role in making higher education more accessible. The Birkbeck student body is diverse, including many mature students as well as those who are first in their families to study for a degree.
The closure of maths degree courses at Birkbeck will negatively affect the UK’s efforts to foster an ongoing flow of talented mathematicians. This stands in stark opposition to the Government’s ambition to break down barriers to opportunity with maths degrees commanding a significant wage premium and being one of the most sought-after degrees.
Without urgent action, maths departments in other universities will also be at risk. Universities and the Government must come together to put maths departments on a sustainable footing. Failing to do so will deprive many from diverse backgrounds of the opportunity to study maths, and especially undermine the Government’s efforts to train and recruit more maths teachers.
