Wales’s largest university could see up to 400 academic jobs lost as part of plans to secure the institution’s “long-term future”.

Cardiff University has launched a formal consultation on the proposals, which also includes the possibility of subject closures and school mergers.

University bosses have said compulsory redundancies will only be made “if absolutely necessary”, as 7% of its total workforce is set to be lost.

With 32,725 students as of 2022/23, Cardiff University is the largest in Wales and the 16th largest in the UK.

Subjects and programmes in ancient history, modern languages and translation, music, nursing and religion and theology are set to come to an end under the plans, with student to staff ratios set to increase across the board.

Professor Wendy Larner, the university’s vice-chancellor, said it was “no longer an option” for the university to continue as it is.

Professor Larner said the university had to take “difficult decisions” as it grappled with “tightening finances”.

“We have worked diligently to create initial proposals for a slightly smaller university, refocused around our core and emerging strengths,” Professor Larner added.

“I want to stress that these are proposals and our final plans will be shaped by our community – both internal and external – through formal consultation.”

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Cardiff UCU president Dr Joey Whitfield said: “Like all of our colleagues, I’m absolutely shell shocked. The cuts are cruel and avoidable. They’ll damage our members, our students, the city, and Wales as a whole.

“We will continue to make the case for a more cautious and evidence-based approach, but we’ll also fight any compulsory redundancies tooth and nail.”

The consultation period will continue for the next 90 days, the university confirmed, and final plans are expected to be published in June.