The newspaper reported that Prof Gillespie travelled business class from Edinburgh to Hong Kong at a cost of £4,723, while his colleague flew on a cheaper fare of £1,067.

Accommodation for the two-night stay cost £682 each.

It was also reported that business class flights for a forthcoming trip to China and Dubai were booked at a cost of more than £8,300 before being cancelled and rebooked with lower cost premium economy flights.

It is understood that last year’s Hong Kong trip resulted in more than £75,000 in income and donations to the university.

But one university staff member told BBC Scotland News that they thought the use of business class flights was “irresponsible”.

They said: “When we are asked to work with budget cut after budget cut, covering multiple jobs due to the recruitment freeze, it’s galling to see the principal living it up on business class flights with his £300k salary.”

The university said its activity in China was “a major part” of its global strategy which it said brought in millions of pounds a year through “student recruitment and in-country education and collaboration”.

A spokesman said: “The principal is travelling to and from China by premium economy, at a considerably reduced cost rather than what had been indicated, and which must be weighed against the value of our global partnerships and all they bring to Dundee.”

He added that it was “not unusual for plans and commitments to change” when planning international travel.

The spokesman said: “That sometimes comes at a relatively small cost as flights and accommodation have to be rearranged, but again must be weighed against the value of the activity and the significant income it helps generate to the university.”