The university has today (January 28) announced that it intends to cut staff costs by £10m this academic year, with about 200 non-academic positions now at risk. 

A £10m reduction is also proposed for the following academic year, which would include a £5m reduction in academic staff costs and £5m in non-academic staff.

It comes amid a difficult environment for higher education, with high inflation, long-term underfunding, and ongoing volatility in international student recruitment.  

Durham University said “strenuous efforts” will be made to secure the savings through voluntary means, and is launching a voluntary severance package on February 17.  

However, if these savings cannot be secured through voluntary means, it is understood that compulsory measures cannot be ruled out. A voluntary severance scheme for academic staff will also be opened.   

Durham University (Image: Durham University)

The university said the proposals have been shared with campus trade unions and formal consultation has begun – with a more detailed update due in early February. 

The news comes several months after the university announced in-year cost-saving measures, including energy use, managing stringently staff vacancies, reducing hospitality expenditure, and restricting non-essential travel. 

It also offered a voluntary severance scheme in 2024 – but, since then, the University has for the first time reported an underlying operational deficit. 

Although this was planned and agreed with the governing University Council, the University must return to surplus.  

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Durham University remains a world-leading university, and our achievements in research and education are made possible by the talent, work, and dedication of our staff.  

“However, we cannot fulfil our aims of remaining a world-class centre of research and education without a firmly established and sustainable financial base.  

“We appreciate today’s announcement will be concerning to staff. 

“We are committed to working with our recognised trade unions and our staff in an open, transparent, and timely way to achieve the savings required.” 

Durham MP ‘saddened’

Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy said she would be remaining in close contact with the university, adding: “I was saddened to learn of the scale of cuts being proposed during one of my recent catch ups with the Vice Chancellor of Durham University.

“I will remain in close contact with her as this situation evolves. Decisions made by the previous government continue to linger, causing major issues for the Higher Education sector with the changes to visas putting the brakes on international student mobility – leaving many universities feeling the financial impact.

Mary Kelly Foy

“I’ll liaise closely with Department for Education colleagues in the coming days and also reach out to trade unions to learn how workers are being supported.”

The University and College Union at Durham University said it is “appalled” by the proposals, adding that it fears the potential job losses could “diminish student experience”.

A statement said: “Durham UCU are appalled by the proposals of the Durham University management to cut staff costs by £10m in the current academic year (2024–25), with a further £10m in the following academic year (2025–26). 

“These cuts are targeting professional services and support staff, who provide the backbone infrastructure that allows our university to function smoothly, from providing vital research and teaching support, to taking care of the health and well-being of our students, to filling our libraries, to ensuring that our buildings are kept safe and clean for both staff and students.  

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“There is no university without its staff: Cutting staff costs will result in a diminished student experience and, in a context where workload is already a significant cause for concern, cause increased workload on staff.

“Since the employer has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, on 24 January 2025, we sent the employer a notice of Failure to Agree, initiating formal dispute procedures.  

“As a branch, Durham UCU will continue to fight for the jobs and working conditions for all our members.”