Up to 400 jobs could be lost at Sheffield Hallam University, it has been announced.

The university said external pressures, such as the government’s plans to reduce the number of international students in the UK, had led to “tough decisions”.

The move would affect non-academic staff, with a voluntary redundancy programme due to launch in June.

Trade union Unison urged the university to do its “utmost to explore every possible alternative to job cuts”.

Sheffield Hallam, which employs around 4,500 staff, said it was engaging with trade unions and would do “everything possible” to avoid compulsory redundancies.

The university said it anticipated a drop in international student recruitment which would require cutting back staff costs by up to 20% to maintain a “healthy financial position”.

A university spokesperson said: “Like all universities, we are having to make tough decisions about the way we operate due to various external pressures.

“In particular, the government’s actions to reduce the overall number of international students in the UK – despite the many economic and cultural benefits they bring – is making the financial picture for universities much worse.”

Following the voluntary severance scheme in June, the university would undergo “some organisational changes”, the spokesperson added.

Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Vikki Garratty said: “Universities are facing a financial crisis but staff shouldn’t have to pay the price.

“Redundancies also have a damaging impact on students and on the city.”