Aberdeen University bosses warn staff of need for £12m savings

Management at the University of Aberdeen have warned staff they will need to make £12m in savings over the next two years.

In a letter seen, by BBC Scotland News, the university has set out proposed cuts including applying a 10-student limit to undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Bosses said they planned to stop recruitment to postgraduate courses which consistently bring in less than six students.

The university said final decisions would be taken in April.

The university said it must break even by 2027-28 and would need to make cuts, or generate additional income, worth £12m.

In December, new principal Prof Peter Edwards had said £5m in savings were required.

The latest warning follows concerns from unions who this week announced four strike days over cuts.

The university has described the action planned for 12 and 13 March and 17 and 18 March as "disappointing".

A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said it was exploring a range of measures to help tackle its deficit, make it more resilient and create capacity for investment and growth.

They added: "We're consulting with staff and campus trade unions ahead of any decisions being taken by our University Court in April."

Aberdeen University's student association, Ausa, said it would be working with students to get their views on the changes.

Hannah Cowie, from Ausa, added: "The University of Aberdeen has a wide varied educational offering right now and we would really hope that the university can rule out the compulsory redundancies.

"The current funding arrangement for Scottish higher education is just inadequate and it's resulting in all of these sort of financial pressures

"We hope for an increase in that or a change in how it's being funded currently."

The university reopened a voluntary severance and early retirement scheme last year.

It also froze recruitment and asked departments to identify further measures to save money.

The university recently confirmed that 41 people took up the offer of a severance package or early retirement.

It confirmed it was on track to achieve the budget approved by its governing body for this year, with work continuing to return to a break-even position by 2028.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Edinburgh University announced £140m of cuts to tackle financial difficulties, while the Scottish government bailed out Dundee University with £40m of emergency funding.

The Scottish government has said it wants a "successful and sustainable future" for higher education.