27,000 college students enrol on 800 ‘rip-off’ Mickey Mouse programs together with ‘local weather justice’ and ‘traditions of yoga’

More than 27,000 students have enrolled on almost 800 ‘rip-off’ Mickey Mouse university courses in the last four years, research suggests.

Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveals a wide range of dubious subjects being taken, including ‘climate justice’ and ‘traditions of yoga’.

The analysis, by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA), aimed to highlight courses across the UK which either do not hold cultural value or are unlikely to directly lead to a job.

Researchers found 787 of these so-called ‘Mickey Mouse’ courses enrolling students since the 2022-23 academic year.

The universities with the most were Buckinghamshire New University and Nottingham Trent University, the TPA said.

Many of the courses listed across the board were linked to hobbies, including five degrees in ‘esports‘ – competitive online videogaming.

There was also a master’s degree in ‘outdoor and experiential learning’, where students can specialise in ‘bushcraft’, at the University of Cumbria.

And at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, there was a master’s degree in the ‘traditions of yoga and meditation’.

Meanwhile, around 60 of the courses were described as ‘woke’ – with limited real-world applications.

This included a master’s in ‘climate justice’ at Glasgow Caledonian University, which is no longer accepting applicants, and a master’s course in ‘race, education and decolonial thought’ at Leeds Beckett University.

Other ‘woke’ courses highlighted by the TPA included a master’s in ‘workplace health and wellbeing’ at Nottingham University and an advanced degree in ‘gender, sexuality and culture’ at the University of Manchester, both members of the elite Russell Group.

Another top university, Bristol, ran a master’s in ‘contemporary identities’, although this is no longer on offer.

There was also a ‘net zero bootcamp’ at London South Bank University – a free course, running for five weeks, where students can ‘re-energise’ their careers and work with sustainability experts.

The bootcamp is supported by the Mayor of London and HM Government, and the Department for Education.

Callum McGoldrick, investigations campaign manager at the TPA, told The Telegraph: ‘Taxpayers are sick of seeing their hard-earned cash subsidise rip-off degrees that offer little to no return on investment.

‘These Mickey Mouse subjects are essentially a state-sponsored vanity project where universities fill their coffers while the public picks up the tab for loans which will never come close to being fully repaid.

‘We need to stop funding hobby courses and start prioritising rigorous subjects that actually boost the economy and deliver value for money.’

Laura Trott, shadow education secretary, added: ‘Young people are being badly let down by Labour, with youth unemployment rising and opportunities narrowing.

‘The Conservatives would end “debt trap” degrees that give students a shoddy deal, leave them saddled with debt, and fail to prepare them for the workplace.

‘Instead, we would double apprenticeships so young people have a genuine choice when they leave school.’

The term ‘Mickey Mouse’ course was first coined in the New Labour years by Baroness Hodge, the former universities minister, to mean one with less ‘rigorous’ content and fewer job prospects.

Last year, Labour vowed to clamp down on ‘poor-quality’ degrees by giving the student watchdog new powers to limit the number of people recruited onto courses that fall short of expected standards.

The analysis, covering 2022-23 to 2025-6, covers undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees and short courses.

Students can get taxpayer-provided loans for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, which are wiped after 30 to 40 years if the borrower was unable to fully repay.

Tuition fees for undergraduate courses were raised in 2025 to £9,535 a year, with Government loans covering the full amount.

Master’s degrees can cost between £5,000 and £30,000, but Government loans are capped at £12,858, with any extra paid by the student.

A spokesman for the University of Nottingham said: ‘The majority of learners on our workplace health and wellbeing postgraduate course are senior occupational health or human resource professionals, and around half have their fees paid directly by their employer. The taxpayer does not contribute to this course.’

A spokesman for the University of Cumbria said: ‘Our MA in outdoor experiential learning is a one-year research-informed programme, designed for those passionate about transforming education, inspiring sustainability, and reshaping how we engage with experience in learning.’

They said a recent survey put it in the top 10 in the UK for graduates entering employment or further study within 15 months of completion.

A spokesman for London South Bank University said: ‘Through our strong links with the construction industry, we know that there is demand for a wider pool of skilled workers who understand issues that are relevant to different parts of the industry.

‘Across the LSBU Group, we are proud to offer courses relevant to green skills, which are underpinned by strong industrial content, robust research and fulfil a growing economic need.’ 

A spokesman for the University of Manchester said: ‘Gender and sexuality are two of the most important issues of our time and are therefore highly suitable for academic study.

‘The programme is based on rigorous enquiry drawing on leading interdisciplinary research in humanities and social sciences.’

A spokesman for Glasgow Caledonian University said: ‘We were recently named UK University of the Year for Graduate Jobs.’

A spokesman for Buckinghamshire New University said: ‘It’s unclear what the TaxPayers’ Alliance is basing its claims on. A more meaningful assessment comes from the evidence.

‘Our industry-facing programmes are designed in partnership with employers to meet real workforce needs and significant skills demand. And we’re proud that our students make a positive contribution to society and to UK plc – from the care they provide as nurses and social workers to their work as pilots, lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, and across the creative industries, which, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, contributed £124 billion to the UK economy and supported approximately 2.4 million jobs in 2023/24.’

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: ‘Our post-16 education and skills white paper set out plans to crack down on poor quality courses and franchising, including by introducing new powers for the Office for Students to limit the number of students that universities recruit onto courses that fall short of expected standards.

‘Students should be certain that the extra money they invest in their higher education will be worth it, and the teaching and experience they receive will help them follow their passions and expand their horizons.’