UK Physics Departments Face Closure Due to Funding Crisis

A recent survey by the Institute of Physics (IoP) has revealed a concerning trend within UK universities: one in four physics departments is at risk of closure due to ongoing funding pressures. The anonymous survey, which included responses from department heads across the country, indicated that 26% of these leaders foresee their departments potentially shutting down within the next two years.

The survey highlighted a broader crisis in the discipline, with 60% of respondents anticipating reductions in course offerings. Additionally, a staggering 80% of departments reported that they are implementing staff cuts, and many are contemplating mergers or consolidations as they grapple with financial instability.

Prof Daniel Thomas, chair of the IoP’s heads of physics forum and head of the University of Portsmouth’s school of physics and mathematics, emphasized the critical implications of these findings. He stated, “Physics really underpins all technological advances – it has done so in the past and will do so in the future.” He underscored the importance of sustaining physics education, noting that many sectors, including quantum technologies, green technologies, and the defence industry, rely on a skilled workforce in physics.

A head of department at one university expressed deep concern about the current situation: “Our university has a £30 million deficit. Staff recruitment is frozen, morale is low. Yet colleagues in our school continue to deliver with less and less and under increasing pressure. I’m very concerned that we are close to breaking point.” This sentiment reflects the anxiety felt across the sector, as institutions struggle to maintain quality education amid economic constraints.

To avert what the IoP describes as “irreversible damage,” the organization is calling for immediate government intervention. This includes increased funding to support existing laboratories and research facilities and the establishment of an “early warning system” to monitor departments at risk of closure. The IoP is also advocating for reforms in higher education funding to ensure that universities can meet the full costs of teaching essential subjects like physics.

Sir Keith Burnett, president of the IoP and former chair of physics at Oxford University, noted the gravity of the situation. He stated, “While we understand the pressures on public finances, it would be negligent not to sound the alarm for a national capability fundamental to our wellbeing, competitiveness and the defence of the realm.” Burnett warned that without timely action, the UK risks losing its standing in the global scientific community.

Prof Thomas identified the declining value of domestic tuition fees and a falling number of international students as key contributors to the financial challenges facing smaller physics departments. He warned that this trend could lead to a concentration of physics education in fewer institutions, undermining efforts to widen participation and preventing some disadvantaged groups from accessing physics studies.

In response to the concerns raised by the IoP, a government spokesperson highlighted plans to increase funding for public research and innovation by more than £22.5 billion annually by 2029-30. This initiative represents a 3% real-terms increase compared to 2025-26. The spokesperson emphasized that the government’s commitment of £86 billion for public research and development through 2030 aims to support the UK’s world-class universities in their pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries.

As the discussions continue, the future of physics education in the UK hangs in the balance. The need for decisive action is clear, as the landscape of higher education faces significant challenges that could reshape the field for generations to come.