A union is calling for Cardiff University’s vice-chancellor to “cut her own £290,000 salary” after plans to shed 400-full time jobs were announced amid a funding shortfall.

Staff at the Welsh university remain in shock after the vice-chancellor Professor Wendy Larner said degree courses and academic schools including nursing, modern languages, music, ancient history, translation, religion and theology are among those proposed for closure in a 90-day consultation.

Professor Larner said the university would have become “untenable” without drastic reforms.

Lecturers have now began receiving letters advising them their post is at risk and offering links to support.

This has lead to Professor Larner – who said “not to change wasn’t an option” – being placed under the spotlight over her six figure salary.

Questions are being raised why Professor Larner hasn’t thought of cutting her own salary whilst 7% of the university’s total workforce are at risk of being cut.

University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady told Express.co.uk that the “unprecedented level of cuts” threatens the UK’s “higher education’s standing on the world stage”.

Ms Grady said: “The unprecedented level of cuts we are seeing across the sector threatens not only the reputation of individual institutions, but UK higher education’s standing on the world stage. You simply cannot slash thousands of jobs and expect to offer anything close to the expected standards of research and teaching.

“Cardiff’s vice-chancellor has claimed brutal cuts are necessary, she needs to cut her own £290k salary before she attacks the hard-working staff who keep the university going.”

Issuing a stark alert the University and College Union warned that “serious industrial unrest cannot be ruled out”.

Ms Grady added: “Our members refuse to stand by and allow university managers to commit academic vandalism on such a grand scale, and where universities refuse to step back from the brink and work with us to maintain provision, we are willing to ballot for strike action. Unfortunately, serious industrial unrest cannot be ruled out.”

The University and College Union said the reductions as “cruel” would harm teachers and students not only at the university, which is the biggest in Wales, but also across the country.

The potential cuts have been slammed by the academic and professional industry alike.

Helen Whyley, director of the Royal College of Nursing, told BBC Radio Wales on Wednesday morning that Cardiff’s nursing school is seen as a “very prestigious institution” among the profession, and has a cohort of around 1,000 students each year.

A spokesperson from Cardiff University highlighted that the Vice-Chancellor is not involved in the process of setting her own salary, it is set independently by external members of Council.

“The Vice-Chancellor’s salary is set independently by the University’s Remuneration Committee – part of the university’s Council, its governing body”, said a Cardiff University spokesperson.

The spokesperson said: “The Vice-Chancellor is not in attendance for, and does not play any part in, the discussions and decisions of their own remuneration. It comprises independent external members of Council, who possess commercial and public-sector pay knowledge and expertise.”

Final plans for approval are expected to be considered by University Council in June following the three months of consultation.