A number of prestigious universities have announced cuts or a complete suspension of graduate admissions in programs related to art history, languages, literature, and other humanities disciplines, according to Art News.
One of the largest examples was the decision by the University of Chicago — here, in almost all doctoral programs in the humanities, including art history, linguistics, and literary studies, no new PhD students will be accepted in the 2026–2027 academic year. An exception has been made only for philosophy and some music programs, while the rest of the programs are awaiting a structural review.
Similar measures have already been taken at other universities: Boston University temporarily suspended the admission of graduate students in certain humanities disciplines, including art history and architecture.
Experts link these reductions not only to the financial difficulties of universities but also to a broader trend: a decrease in the number of applications and a focus on programs with a clear professional profile, which are easier to attract students and resources, — according to Art News. This causes concern among humanities teachers, who believe that such decisions may weaken fundamental research in the field of culture and art history.
It is already clear that the prospects for an academic career in the humanities are undergoing serious changes — and this may affect the formation of the next generation of art researchers around the world.