In 2023, the expenditure on R&D in Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts within UK higher education stood at £4.2 billion. From 2024 onwards, forecasts indicate a steady growth rate, with expenditures reaching £4.45 billion by 2028. This reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 1.4% over the five-year period. Year-on-year percentage increases hover around 1.18%, illustrating consistent investment in these fields.

Future trends to watch for include:

Potential policy changes affecting funding allocations.
The impact of evolving societal challenges which may redirect focus and resources to specific research areas.
Technological advancements influencing methodologies and tools in social sciences and humanities research.