The government has suggested universities will have to scrap 'low value' courses and concentrate on science and technology in order to be eligible for a bailout following the coronavirus crisis.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson, who was a graduate from the University of Bradford in Social Sciences, said universities should focus more heavily upon subjects which deliver strong graduate employment outcomes.
However, according to research by education consultant Studee, 90 per cent of the courses taken by MPs would now be considered 'low value'.
None of the most popular subjects taken by MPs elected in the December 2019 election are considered essential for roles in professions like nursing and teaching, so-called Stem subjects.
Some 85 per cent of MPs elected in the December 2019 election went to university.
Laura Rettie, vice-president of global communications at Studee said: “To be eligible for an emergency loan, universities may have to scrap so called 'low value courses' and instead focus on subjects like science, technology, engineering, maths, nursing and teaching.
"And yet our research shows most MPs studied politics, history, law, economics, philosophy and English.
“Boris himself studied the classics, Gove English and Rees-Mogg history. It feels very hypocritical to me that the government are suggesting subjects such as humanities and arts aren’t as valuable and yet the majority of MP’s studied them.
“Universities are being asked to offer degrees that are a good financial investment for students which of course makes sound sense - graduate prospects are important, but so is choice.
"Higher education shouldn’t be about how much money you’ll earn at the end of it - it’s about empowerment, broadening minds and diversifying skills.”
