Arms Industry Given Direct Influence over University Courses

Disarm Education - Excel Arms Fair Protest, Newham, 2025

An investigation by Declassified UK has revealed that executives from major arms companies, including BAE Systems, Leonardo, Thales, and Rolls-Royce, have been given direct influence over academic courses at British universities.

According to Declassified UK [1], these companies have been invited to sit on at least 53 university advisory committees across the country. The investigation states that they are usually asked to provide "strategic direction" for academic departments, and in some cases are also permitted to review the progress of research projects.

Using Freedom of Information requests, Declassified UK found that at least 21 universities had asked arms companies to sit on their committees. The institutions identified include the universities of Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Cardiff, York, and Queen's University Belfast.

Declassified UK reports that some of the universities openly acknowledge this arrangement, describing it as a way to "respond to the needs of employers." The minutes of one committee meeting, cited by the investigation, show that arms executives were thanked for "ensuring that our programmes fit industry requirements and demand."

Specific instances of this industry influence were also documented. During a meeting at the University of Hull, an official from BAE Systems said the company would "welcome applications" from students for "industrial placements" and expressed a wish to "develop the relationship." Separately, a committee at the University of Cardiff discussed whether "industry" could "teach material to students," noting that this would be "an appealing prospect for the School but would also offer good exposure for industry."

The findings from Declassified UK follow an earlier investigation by openDemocracy, which revealed that British universities had accepted almost £100 million from defence companies over a five-year period. That investigation noted that many of the companies involved are also arming Israel.

These findings coincide with mounting pressure on universities over their ties to the arms trade. In February this year, over 1,500 academics, researchers, and students signed an open letter demanding that UK universities cut their links with arms companies [2]. Campaign groups such as Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) have also called on institutions to "immediately stop accepting funding from arms companies."

Notes
1. Arms industry given direct influence over university courses - Declassified UK, April 8, 2026
https://www.declassifieduk.org/arms-industry-given-direct-influence-over-university-courses/
2. Universities face backlash over £2.5bn in defence partnerships as academics and students demand transparency and divestment, AOAV, February 26 2026
https://aoav.org.uk/2026/universities-face-backlash-over-2-5bn-in-defence-partnerships-as-academics-and-students-demand-transparency-and-divestment/

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