A recent study conducted by University College London (UCL) reports that university reading lists are dominated by white European males.

The study analysed 144 authors of Social Science papers and 146 authors of science papers included in two reading lists. It found that, while 39 per cent of students were black and minority ethnic (BAME), a mere seven per cent of authors offered on the reading lists were BAME.

As well as this, academics reported that 70 per cent of science authors were male, despite the fact that the student population on a national level is 60 per cent female.

These findings have led research co-author Dr Karen Schucan Bird to call for reading lists which better represent the student population, ensuring that higher education becomes ‘both more inclusive and more diverse.’

She also believes that we must work hard in order to ensure the ‘decolonisation’ of university courses, and that this will involve ‘engaging with both staff and students to ensure clarity and commitment from all.’

This feeling is also echoed amongst the student population, with notable campaigns including ‘Rhodes must Fall’ at Oxford, ‘LiberatED’ at Edinburgh and ‘Why is My Curriculum White?’ at Leeds and UCL.

At UCL, an open letter has been written criticizing the fact that there was ‘not enough Africa’ in the African Studies master’s programme. The approach and content of this module caused controversy due to its Eurocentric nature and ‘disproportionately large number of cis-white male voices.’

A spokesperson for UCL has responded to the letter, saying ‘students are at the heart of what we do and we value their opinions and feedback,’ and that an effort would be made to ‘implement changes’ and ‘improve the education we offer.’