University of Aberdeen’s governing body has approved plans to cut smaller courses in a move that will see up to 111 full-time equivalent academic roles axed before 2027.
Members of Court voted to approve the cost-cutting measures after the decision was delayed. The series of approved changes have been resisted by many staff members who fear for their jobs.
The latest decision means the ancient institution will seek to maintain minimum student-staff ratios (SSRs) of 20 students per lecturer in STEM courses and 25 students per lecturer in humanities and social sciences (SHAPE) courses.
University chiefs assured its community that student-staff ratios will be implemented to guide spending on staffing, and will not be identically replicated across all disciplines.
It was previously reported that the move would threaten up to 200 academic roles, but now the university says the number of affected jobs will be “up to 111” full-time equivalent roles.
In an email to staff yesterday, Interim Senior Governor Gary McRae and Principal Pete Edwards announced the plans were approved, writing that “future staffing budgets [will be] informed by indicative student:staff ratios (SSRs) of 20:1 for STEM disciplines and 25:1 for SHAPE.”
“Regrettably, this will mean we need to reduce our academic staffing numbers,” the senior managers wrote.
One lecturer told The Gaudie that they felt “broken” and “exhausted”, while another said they could not express their feelings in words that are publishable.
The move comes after the university reportedly paused 21 postgraduate taught courses with low student numbers earlier this year. Court also recently approved measures to consolidate the university’s 12 schools into four faculties in a bid to improve efficiency.
So far this year, staff have participated in 14 days of strike action with the aim to persuade the university to rule out compulsory redundancies. Principal Edwards rejected a deal with staff on strike to guarantee job security for six months.
University chiefs say compulsory redundancies must be kept open as “a last resort” and “remain committed” to reducing the workforce “by voluntary means as far as possible.”
The email to staff confirmed that the university would reopen its early retirement and voluntary redundancy schemes over summer before considering compulsory redundancies in autumn. This means that if enough teaching staff do not choose to leave the university on their own, some may be forced to leave.
In the run up to Court’s decision, lecturers had organised grassroots meetings, raising questions over senior management salaries and a perceived slowness to act on campus commercialisation opportunities to raise revenue.
In an open letter which garnered over 1,600 signatures, senior management were reminded to treat staff as assets rather than liabilities, and to replace cuts proposals with “a more cohesive and community-minded approach to the future of this institution.” Student groups and individuals also wrote to members of Aberdeen University’s court highlighting their concerns.
Union officials have previously reported extremely low morale among the university’s workers. Some staff have compared current events at the university to 1988, when three academics committed suicide after losing their jobs under restructuring .
Principal Edwards and Governor McRae said, “Court heard and acknowledged feedback from our community as part of these discussions.
“We recognise the uncertainty this is causing and will continue to do our utmost to support colleagues through this time… We are under no illusion as to how challenging this news will be for many.
“Decisive action is needed to protect the future of our University and allow us to return to a more stable footing to grow and succeed in a way that meets the needs of the communities we serve.”
The duo said that to break even from a deficit by 2028, University Court also made a £10m savings plan “to ensure financial stability, eradicate annual uncertainty, and generate surpluses for investment.”
Professor Gerhard Kling, a Chair in Finance, questioned the accounting behind the plans, claiming that the approved cuts are unnecessary. He said, “the University’s reported financial position has improved materially against the budget approved by Court.
He said that a recent management report from April 2026 “does not show a worsening financial crisis.
“On the contrary, the University’s reported financial position has improved materially against the budget approved by Court.”
The academic added, “The latest management report projects an underlying surplus of £4.0m, an improvement of £9.2m against the revised budgeted deficit. In other words, the University has moved from planning for a deficit to forecasting a surplus.”
“Management should be asked to explain why a forecast surplus, substantial cash headroom, and savings already exceeding the target are being used to justify compulsory job losses.”
University and College Union Aberdeen, the University of Aberdeen and the Students’ Union have been approached for comment.
