The principal of the University of Edinburgh has railed against what he described as a the "depressing, negative and polarising rhetoric" that is undermining the value of an arts degree.

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said this had been perpetuated by "factions of society and media" over the past decade and he wanted to reassure new students that they had made a "sound choice".

Around 60% of this year's intake of 18,0000 students were matriculated within Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) "by far the university's most populous college" said Mr Mathieson.

(Image: Edinburgh University) He said arts students had "contributed to some of the world's most important intellectual movements and that data had shown that while 3% science graduates become managers, directors or senior officials, the figure for non-science degrees is twice as high.

Writer Ian Rankin is among the university's notable alumni who graduated with arts degrees.

Writing in The Herald today Mr Mathieson said: "I wish to dispel a depressing, negative and polarising rhetoric that has echoed throughout factions of our society and media over the past decade, one that is undermining the value of academic endeavour within the arts, humanities and social sciences.

"First, to students undertaking an arts degree: as with your predecessors – many of whom contributed to some of the world’s most important intellectual movements – your choice remains a sound one.

"Data has shown that three years after graduating there is little difference in employment rates between disciplines.

"Moreover, while 3% of science graduates become managers, directors or senior officials, the figure for non-science degrees is twice as high."

However, he said he didn't want to "pit STEM and the arts against each other".

"Nor should we reduce the value of degrees to graduate earnings alone, despite the inclination to do so in response to cost-of-living pressures.

Peter Mathieson, principal of the University of Edinburgh said he wanted to reassure art students they had made a sound choiceSir Peter Mathieson, principal of the University of Edinburgh said he wanted to reassure art students they had made a sound choice (Image: Edinburgh University)

"There are so many other benefits of a university degree that go beyond earnings potential.

"To ignore these misses the point of why universities will continue to be a leading light in generating knowledge and innovation for centuries to come.

"It’s their very symbiosis that will enable our success."

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He said the creative industries attracted huge investment with Edinburgh’s Festivals generating an estimated economic impact of £407 million.

"The arts are something to be protected and enabled to flourish," he said.

"During the Enlightenment, Edinburgh was described as a “hotbed of genius” and world-renowned writers such as Voltaire visited our great city to work with the leading academics of the day.

"This explosion of new ways of thinking and doing things was only possible because of diverse disciplines evolving simultaneously."