Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University (BCU) is currently facing significant criticism for its decision to close its Master of Arts (MA) in Black studies and global justice, a course that had only recently been launched. This move follows the earlier controversial closure of its undergraduate Black studies course in 2024. The university's actions have drawn international condemnation, with over 100 academics, writers, and activists signing an open letter urging BCU to reverse its decision. A leading US civil rights scholar, Kimberlé Crenshaw, has drawn parallels between BCU's decision and the broader "attack on diversity, equity and inclusion" in the United States, expressing profound concern that such actions could lead to the erasure of Black studies. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about the place and importance of Black studies within higher education.