Science courses are among the most expensive to run

The Association of University Teachers will vote on Thursday on opposing the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

The union says departments identified as being less than "world class" are suffering financially, with many closing as a result.

Earlier this month, MPs condemned a "winner takes all" mentality with regard to university funding.

'Stop the sackings'

AUT general secretary Sally Hunt will tell the union's annual council in Eastbourne that whoever wins the general election must change the RAE.

She is expected to say: "The RAE means high salaries for a few, and job cuts for the many.

"Our task is to support our members, and to stop the sackings. That is why I call on the next government to axe the RAE as your first act in the next parliament."

Ms Hunt will call for a "fairer funding regime" and criticise the "creeping privatisation of research, the pressure produced by the RAE, the under-funding of our sector and academic freedom".

Under the current funding system, those given a world-class (5 or 5*) rating receive considerably more money than those of just national excellence (grade 4).

A BBC survey in December showed that one in five UK universities had closed or cut departments during the last year or planned to do so in the coming year.

But 58 were looking at setting up new subjects or expanding existing ones. Some 73 of 120 higher education institutions responded.