University of Aberdeen (UoA) has lost 41 staff members since the introduction of a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme in April.
The Voluntary Severance scheme was introduced alongside the Enhanced Retirement scheme in summer 2024 after the University announced a deficit of over £5.5 million at the end of the academic year. At the time, it also introduced a freeze to staff promotions and recruitment.
The Enhanced Retirement scheme allows for staff over 55 years old, who have worked at the University for over 5 years to apply for a 12 month pay package for leaving their jobs. The Voluntary Severance Scheme offered the same package but for under 55s. The University explained: “the needs and strategic objectives of the University have to be centre focus as we navigate our way through this challenging period.”
The two schemes were reopened and extended at the beginning of this year.
The business school has taken the biggest hit, with 14 staff becoming redundant or taking enhanced retirement.
Student Alexander Paris is concerned. As Trading and Investment Club President, he speaks to many of his business school peers. Speaking with The Gaudie, he said:
“Students are already feeling the impact. Losing the highest number of staff of any school has meant fewer elective options, larger class sizes, and noticeably reduced academic support. Lecturers are working incredibly hard, but the reality is that stretched teams can’t deliver the same level of contact time, feedback, or specialist teaching.
“Students aren’t angry at staff; they’re frustrated that financial decisions are eroding the quality of our degrees at a time when competition for graduate roles is higher than ever.”
A UoA spokesperson told The Gaudie: “Wide-ranging measures including Voluntary Severance and Enhanced Retirement, a pause on recruitment, income generation opportunities and identifying savings have enabled the University to reduce its deficit for 2024/2025 to £4.3m.
“The University is on track to achieve the budget approved by its governing body Court for this year and work continues on the trajectory to return to break even by 2028.”
Dan Cutts, UCU trade union chair, told STV: ‘‘Workload pressures were a problem before any voluntary severance schemes started. We’ve obviously lost a significant number of staff during that time, and this is exasperating workload pressures. There is very much a perception among staff, from all grades, that we are all doing more for less.”
This news of staff number reduction comes after publication of a recent governance efficiency report which shone light on the “toxic” culture within the University’s governance structure. The report found that there were instances of “intimidating behaviour” in Senate meetings and a lack of trust between governing levels.
“Staff are demoralised, over-worked and anxious about their jobs. I’ve never seen it so bad,” an unnamed source told The Herald.
Alexander Paris shared that he sees a mixed mood among students :
“It is a mix of concern, confusion, and cautious hope. Students understand the university needs to fix its financial problems, but there is real anxiety that restructuring through the Adapting for Continued Success programme could come at the cost of academic quality. People remember the language cuts last year and worry that certain programmes or support services might quietly disappear.”
Through a Freedom of Information request, STV found that over 100 staff have used University mental health support over the 2024/25 academic year.
A UoA spokesperson stated: “The University is dedicated to caring for the wellbeing, health and safety of our diverse community and offers staff access to support for mental health issues experienced in both a professional and personal capacity.
“In recent years we have enhanced our support services to ensure they keep pace with the changing demands of our staff and students. As part of this we provide options to engage with mental health and wellbeing services 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and are constantly striving to further improve our services.”
