In an email to staff, the vice-chancellor of Bangor University informed them that due to a decline in international students, about 200 positions could be at risk.
According to Edmund Burke, vice-chancellor of the University, additional factors that contributed to the layoffs included the rise in government costs, including increases in employers’ national insurance, which will be implemented on the 6th April.
On Wednesday, the University of South Wales, which has campuses in Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd announced its intention to eliminate 90 jobs.
One in four universities across the UK is experiencing a financial crisis, for the same reason as Bangor.
Four universities, including members of the Russell Group, which is known for its research, announced at the end of January that they would be shedding a total of 1,000 jobs due to budget cuts.
Cardiff University plans to cut 400 positions, mainly amongst staff who teach nursing and humanities.
Bangor University is home to about 10,000 students, and 650 academics. However, the voluntary redundancy program will also be available for non-academics.
The vice-chancellor stated that the university was looking to expand the voluntary redundancy program, but it may be necessary to implement compulsory redundancies.
Prof Burke stated that “these sector-level challenges are extremely important for us”.
“Our student intakes in autumn 2024 were lower than those of 2023 and fell short of our budget goal. Our undergraduate intake at home was 7% lower and without medicine was 11% smaller.
Our international intake also was smaller. In September, our international postgraduate intake was around half as large as the intake for 2023.
In his email, he told staff that, although universities could increase the fees of incoming students from PS9,535 to PS9,535 in 2025-26, “there was no agreement on future inflation adjustments to the amount we receive per student”.
He wrote: “UK Universities have become increasingly dependent on international income in order to cover the shortfall caused by home fees that are not rising with inflation.”
The decline in international students is due to visa restrictions announced in 2023 by the former government. They were not reversed by Keirstarmer’s administration.
Bangor staff was invited to meet with university bosses Wednesday afternoon. They discussed the proposed changes, and also had an opportunity to voice their concerns.
Prof Burke said: “Some universities with high tariffs have responded to a fall in the number of international students by reducing entry grades and accepting more domestic students. This has decreased the number of students who are coming to other Universities.
The vice-chancellor stated that the university has already relocated staff from some buildings, and they are to be sold.
Cardiff University has also written to 1,800 staff members who could be affected by the 400 job cuts previously announced.
The university aims to make as many cuts as possible by relying on voluntary redundancies.
The Minister for Higher Education in Wales, who spoke on Tuesday, asked that universities “consider all options”, which includes using financial reserves to prevent job loss.
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