Keele University could be cutting dozens of academic posts, in an attempt to tackle a budget shortfall.

The university needs to save �1.5m from its salary bill - and is considering a staff reduction of 35 posts.

"This year has seen a serious worsening of the financial problem for the whole higher education sector and Keele has not been immune," said a statement from the university.

"For many years salary costs and other costs have been rising above the rate of inflation and have not been matched fully by increases in public funding."

The university says that a 3.5% pay increase for lecturers has not been matched by an increase in income.

In response to this funding problem, the university says it is seeking �1m in non-staffing savings and �1.5m in staff costs.

Top-up fees

There have been concerns that cuts will particularly affect the maths department - but the university was unable to confirm this.

"The full details of both the non-pay cuts and staff reductions have yet to be finalised," said the university.

The higher education sector has made repeated calls for higher funding - with vice-chancellors claiming that universities needed in excess of an extra �9bn.

The government has delayed its plans for higher education, which will also involve the funding of students.

Underlying the debate over the possible introduction of top-up fees for students is the awareness that universities need to increase their income.

While the government wants half of all young people to enter higher education by the end of the decade, universities say that there has been no corresponding increase in funding.

Students alarmed

Members of Keele students' union are to lobby the university management to try to stop the cuts.

Union vice-president Kylie Cross said: "It is going to affect students to the extent that some departments are being cut in half.

"The courses they signed up for will not be there any more."

Prospective students would also be deterred from coming to Keele, she said.

"We want an investigation into this financial crisis."