Language & Linguistics is one of the founding units of the University of Essex and was part of the much-invoked ‘spirit of Essex’ in our marketing. Removing our autonomy and cutting our programmes is, among so many things, just really, really sad and a loss for applied linguistics.

March 12, 2026 - 17:41 UTC

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this is of course part of a much larger attack on modern languages, which, frankly, undercuts the supposed ‘market’ arguments around falling student demand. we know that languages improve graduate outcomes and employability and we know they enrich students’ lives.
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Please share the letter widely, we want to make clear to the university that we will not be cut down without anyone noticing or caring.
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