Into the cloud of the unknown: the future of Religious Studies in UK universities

The higher-education system in the UK, and especially England, is currently undergoing an unprecedented amount of change through massive cuts, a completely new system of student funding, the inclusion of impact in the assessment of research, and the disappearance of small departments into larger faculties. This paper considers the background to this revolution and looks at the policies that are driving it. After initially looking at this in general terms, the paper will consider what this means for teaching and research in the Humanities, and more specifically for the study of religion (in its broadest sense). The paper also seeks to look at any opportunities that these changes may bring, and considers some creative solutions.