Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said “it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are”.

She said the university needed to “take difficult decisions” due to “declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive”.

“I know that these proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainly and anxiety for those potentially impacted,” she added.

Dr Joey Whitfield from Cardiff UCU said they were “absolutely shell shocked” by the “cruel and unnecessary” cuts.

“I’ve had colleagues in tears. They’ll damage our members, our students, the city, and Wales as a whole,” she added.

She said union members “are prepared to fight any compulsory redundancies tooth and nail”.

Prof Larner said the proposals would result in a “a slightly smaller university”.

She said a formal consultation would take place, with the 400 job cuts equating to 7% of the workforce.

The subjects and programmes being cut also include ancient history and religion and theology.

The university said the proposals would also include the following subject mergers:

Staff briefings were held on Tuesday, with the university saying they would continue throughout the week.

The consultation will run for three months, with final plans for approval expected to be considered by University Council in June 2025.