Solitary classics degree course could be history

The department's future has been discussed in a meeting with senior members and more than 90 students, which looked at the "academic fit" of classics within the university.

Leeds is the region's only university that still teaches the subject but potential cuts to higher education and the Browne report on fees may see it scrapped.

The department had proposed abolishing its degrees in Greek and Latin but this was rejected by the head of the school.

The university has guaranteed teaching will be preserved for the September 2010 and 2011 intakes, which means classics teaching will continue until at least 2014.

The university emphasised its review of subject provision is at an early stage and it is too premature to draw conclusions about whether classics will be dropped.

But senior lecturer Dr Elizabeth Pender said the end of classics at Leeds could mean "the end of the subject in Yorkshire" and more than 5,000 people have signed a petition to keep it going.

Dr Peter Jones, co-founder of the Friends of Classics society, said the subject is experiencing a revival in schools, with 500 state secondary schools starting Latin in the past eight years.

John Taylor, of the Joint Association of Classical Teachers, said: "The classics department at Leeds has a distinguished history and is currently thriving."

He added: "Leeds currently provides nine per cent of all UK undergraduate places in classics and is the only remaining department in Yorkshire."

Possible alternatives are being looked at, such as a new role for classics within the modern languages and cultures department or a subject unit in which modules could be taught.

Students said the course was unique and that classics could be almost completely inaccessible for those outside private education without the University of Leeds degree.

The university is looking at options to ensure the academic and financial sustainability of classics and all options from a review will be considered by management.

A University of Leeds spokesman said: "At the moment, we have yet to reach even the mid-point of the second phase of a potential five-phase process, and are still looking into a variety of scenarios and potential options for change.

"Cessation of academic activity in classics is indeed one of several potential options under discussion in the department itself, and in its parent school of humanities, but we are a long way away from our senate coming to any firm decision.

"The school, and the faculty, recognises the value of each of its subjects, but it also recognises that departments have to be academically and financially sustainable, and that their activities must be aligned with university strategy."