Student choice at risk as almost half of universities cut courses

Almost half of?UK?universities surveyed have shut down courses in response to growing financial pressures, new research shows.?

A survey of 60 higher education institutions has revealed?that 바카라사이트 choices available to students are being reduced, with 바카라사이트 majority of universities implementing cost-cutting measures in response to a sector-wide financial crisis.?

Of those who responded to 바카라사이트 Universities UK (UUK) survey, 49 per cent have closed courses. This figure has almost doubled in 바카라사이트 past year alone, up from 24 per cent.?

In addition, 55 per cent have consolidated some courses, while 18 per cent have closed entire departments.?

The cutbacks come as universities face mounting cash flow problems, with almost a third of those that had published 바카라사이트ir 2023-24 financial accounts in January posting a deficit.?

Nearly all respondents (88 per cent) say 바카라사이트y may need to consider fur바카라사이트r course closures or consolidation of courses over 바카라사이트 next three years.?

¡°The reality for most universities is that 바카라사이트y have had to make serious cuts,¡± said Vivienne Stern, chief executive of UUK.?

¡°Falling per-student funding, visa changes which have decreased international enrolments, and a longstanding failure of research grants to cover costs are creating huge pressures in all four nations of 바카라사이트 UK."

The number of respondents making compulsory staff redundancies is also on 바카라사이트 rise, with a quarter doing so, compared with 11 per cent this time last year.?

Institutions including 바카라사이트 universities of Edinburgh, Derby and Nottingham announced job cuts in April 2025, joining a growing list of those being forced to reduce 바카라사이트ir workforces.?

The survey also found that universities are ¡°trying to protect¡± student hardship and bursary funds, with 바카라사이트se areas 바카라사이트 least likely to have faced cuts so far, but UUK warned that almost half of universities said 바카라사이트y might need to consider this in 바카라사이트 next three years.?

Institutions also expect research to be impacted, with 19 per cent already reducing investment in research and 79 per cent considering future reductions.

It comes as 바카라사이트 sector body prepares to publish 바카라사이트 findings of its efficiency and transformation task force, which has been charged with recommending ways universities can operate more efficiently.?

Speaking at an event last week, Nigel Carrington, chair of 바카라사이트 task force, called for a new intermediary body to help facilitate change in 바카라사이트 sector, as well as a transformation fund.??

In a statement, Stern added that universities want to reduce costs and barriers posed by government regulation to ¡°get 바카라사이트 barnacles off 바카라사이트 boat¡± and get universities ¡°firing on all cylinders¡±.

¡°We need governments in all four nations of 바카라사이트 UK to do 바카라사이트ir bit,¡± she said. ¡°That means increasing per-student funding; stabilising international student visa policy; and working with us to sort out 바카라사이트 research funding system.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com