University of Kent to phase out Music and Audio Technology

The University of Kent has confirmed that Music and Audio Technology is one one of six subjects to be axed following an internal review.

The university said the review ‘focussed on making sure we are well-placed to grow in priority areas in the future, while proposing to phase out future recruitment in a small number of courses where we no longer feel we can be competitive’.

In addition to Music and Audio Technology, courses in Anthropology, Art History, Health & Social Care, Journalism, and Philosophy/Religious Studies will be phased out.

‘Like many in the sector, we are responding to a number of financial challenges including the fixed tuition fee, rising costs and changes in student behaviour’, the university said.

The Music and Audio Technology offer included an  undergraduate degree and a PhD, covering areas such as sound recording, music production, sound design, music performance, songwriting, composition and the music business.

Based at the university’s Medway Campus in Chatham, Music and Audio Technology facilities include rehearsal spaces, practice rooms, iMac rooms, and recording and post-production studios.

Tom Kiehl, interim CEO of UK Music and University of Kent alumnus, said: ‘Institutions and courses like this are an important part of the talent pipeline. The music industry generated £4bn in exports and contributed £6.7bn to the economy in 2022. This doesn’t happen without the hard work of countless tutors and numerous educational institutions, and as we approach a general election in the UK, I hope that the government and political parties will reflect on the policy decisions and messaging that has led to universities deciding to close their musical offerings.’

The closure of the Audio and Music Technology course is not set to affect the university’s extra-curricular music programme, based at the Colyer-Fergusson Building on the Canterbury Campus.

Alongside a range of choirs and ensembles, Music Performance Scholarships are available annually to talented instrumentalists and singers studying any subject.

A statement from MusicHE, the UK’s subject association for music in higher education, said: ‘We heard news last week from the University of Kent that they are closing their music department – though naturally their extra-curricular ensembles, always distinct from their department, continue to be an important part of “making sure [they] are well-placed to grow priority areas in the future.” This is what “enrichment” sounds like. The erosion of music within the curriculum at school level repeats the erosion of research and teaching in university departments.