Our News

Our statement on Higher Education cuts and changes

Posted on 25th September, 2026 in News

Press reporting on changes at the University of Edinburgh has caused significant concern within Scotland’s writing and publishing landscape. We appreciate that the picture is nuanced and complex.

There is no question that Higher Education in Scotland is facing significant challenges, as highlighted in this British Academy report on areas of the UK with no provision of particular subject areas. The first report from The Scottish Government and Universities Scotland’s co-owned Future Framework for the Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities lays out the challenges of funding gaps in Higher Education and we share the broader concerns it raises. Potential reduction in provision in literature and creative writing within our sector is always of deep concern.

For the present time we wish to express the importance to the health of our sector of the study of Scottish literatures, languages and associated areas in particular. This provision has been hard won and is vital to Scotland’s identity as a literary culture operating in its three indigenous languages of English, Gaelic and Scots.

LAS Board of Trustees