(Old) Wanting to apply for English Literature & History combined degree at Chichester

Chichester has recently made sweeping cuts in the humanities department to redirect funds to musical theatre, dance and acting - which was devastating because it meant I was very unlikely to be able to do an MA here and enjoy it. I miss living in Chichester and I miss the university but they left me with no choice. Almost all options cut except 'do a PGCE' which I did not want to do.
Management complained the department always had very few applicants to which I argue they never actually advertise the department and showcase any student work or achievements within it. No dissertation showcase until recently and that was only because one student organised it all by themselves with no help from the department, no publication of student work, no dedicated careers visits or information except for 'have you considered secondary school teaching', nothing at all. Meanwhile, it seems every other department is given these opportunities and we weren't.
Work placements also cut significantly "due to ongoing covid concerns" but almost every other department was able to do a huge variety of placements so the concern can't have been that great, as far as I'm aware there was only a history one. Some of the cuts to staff they made included an expert in international relations which was a huge blow to the contemporary political history aspect of the department, plus one of the senior lecturers in modern British history.
The department could have been something absolutely incredible if they had actually put some work into it - invite Year 11s/sixth forms/colleges to visit the humanities department and try a (shortened) lecture, do an online exhibition of student work, actually do some active promotion of the department, hold events and humanities-specific open evenings. It was really saddening to see all of these cuts when I was coming to the end of my studies because I had enjoyed my degree so much, and not a lot of other students will get those opportunities. I only found out Chichester did humanities because I was specifically searching for a small university due to my disability, which says a lot about how the university views itself. It does not help matters that every single president or vice president of the SU has been either sport/musical theatre/acting in the last couple of years, it sometimes felt like nobody was on our side at all in regards to people who have power.
I had really wanted to stay for an MA but ended up having to apply elsewhere and luckily I could with the grades I received, but I would have much preferred another year or two in the university I fell in love with.

^^^ oh agree so much with all of this - I also only found the uni because I was looking for a smaller one due to my disability and was such as shame to see so many cuts in favour of other departments, esp. with some of the lecturers lost as a result, and to have an SU also favour students from those kinda departments than other students/just be totally unwilling to practically help. (oh and thanks for the diss showcase mention - that was me! and tbh the department did help me send emails to promote it and book the room for it, and all the lecturers were very positive when talking to me about it - unsurprisingly tho the SU offered no help promoting it when I went to them)

Oh hey! I'm really jealous I didn't get to showcase my dissertation because I had already left, I graduated in 2023. I did actually propose a dissertation showcase to both the SU and the department in the face of cuts right before I left, and they told me they weren't interested at all so I'm glad you got help organising it. The way they do not put any work at all into the department is awful, because it could be amazing with a little bit of effort (even the smallest amount). They keep saying to applicants that they're so proud of their history and the evolution of the university as an institution and part of the community but actively do not invest any amount of time, effort or funding in the department.
I'm not surprised at all the SU just sat there. I went to the SU asked for guidance on an academic issue ONCE and never again because they didn't seem to care very much and I felt super let down. During the marking boycott I did mention to the SU how stuck the humanities department was because we had a couple of lecturers participating in strike action (to some extent) and their response was "only 1% of staff are striking" - when I pointed out that "1%" could mean some students are completely unaffected but other students could have delays, they were not very helpful at all and just kept saying "well it is only 1%".
It was a really distressing time as our deadlines were earlier than other courses but a lot of other people got their dissertations back quicker, and I felt that I wasn't being listened to at all. I was luckily not waiting to hear if I had been successful in any MA applications as I knew I would do gap year. Their job is to represent the student body and I didn't feel they fulfilled this, it really does feel like it's only MT or sport or acting that matters to them.