Birmingham University is to axe five degree courses, leading to renewed criticism about the "marketisation" of higher education and the future of 'minority' subjects.

The university is to scrap its BA programmes in Combined Humanities, Creative Writing, War Studies, Performing, Visual Arts and Community and Play and Youth.

About 450 students will be affected by the phased shutdown. However, managers have promised they will be able to complete their studies.

Students and lecturing union leaders claimed the move was further proof education was being sacrificed because of financial constraints.

Next year will see the introduction of variable tuition fees putting a greater emphasis on students as ?customers? and forcing universities to focus on money-spinning courses.

Birmingham has already closed down its department of cultural studies with the loss of 11 jobs as part of a #5 million cost-cutting drive.

Vice-principal Michael Clarke admitted course closures were a risk in higher education as universities are put under greater pressure to raise their own funds. ?There is obviously going to be tension between cost and provision,? he said.

?We shall see nationally some course closures in subjects that are not popular or not popular and expensive.?

The cuts at Birmingham come in the wake of a raft of closures of chemistry departments across the country as students opt for easier subjects, like media studies.

Last year, it was revealed Aston University is to axe its civil engineering course after 50 years, claiming dwindling numbers made it non-viable.

Birmingham University claims there is less Government money available to fund non-research led subjects, such as Performing and Visual Arts and Community and Play and Youth.

It also said the other three subjects - part-time courses offered at the university?s Centre for Lifelong Learning - set to disappear were not getting the funding.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England, which distributes public money to universities, admitted there were areas of concern. ?Clearly there is an issue about the new regime under which the additional money they are able to charge - up to #3,000 - is in relation to full time courses only,? said a spokesman.

But he added: ?Universities are autonomous institutions. It is entirely up to them to decide what programmes to run.?

From next September, universities will be able to triple their annual course fees to #3,000, provided they have bursaries to assist candidates from low income families.

The Government believes this will plug a #10 billion gap in higher education while encouraging universities and students to be more commercially aware.

But Sue Blackwell, of the Association of University Teachers? Birmingham branch, said: ?There now seems to be quite dramatic changes taking place. You wonder where it is going to end.?