Cardiff University, a member of the prestigious Russell Group, has announced plans to cut up to 400 academic staff positions in response to a £31 million funding shortfall. The university is set to begin a consultation process on proposals to reduce or eliminate key courses, merge faculties, and increase student-to-staff ratios in an effort to remain financially viable.
The proposed job cuts, representing around seven percent of Cardiff’s workforce, are among the largest ever announced by a Russell Group institution. Subjects facing reductions or possible elimination include modern languages, nursing, ancient history, music, and religion and theology.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner acknowledged the difficult decision, stating that maintaining the status quo was no longer an option. “I know these proposals will cause uncertainty and anxiety, but we need to act now to ensure the university’s future,” she said.
The restructuring plans also include merging disciplines such as chemistry, physics, and earth sciences into a new School of Earth Sciences. Meanwhile, subjects like English, linguistics, archaeology, philosophy, history, and Welsh may be consolidated into a single School of Global Humanities.
Cardiff, Wales’ largest university with nearly 33,000 students in 2023, reported an operating deficit of £31.2 million last year. The financial strain reflects a broader crisis in the UK higher education sector, raising concerns that some institutions may face closure in the coming year.
The University and College Union (UCU) has strongly opposed the cuts, calling them “cruel and avoidable” and warning of further reductions in administrative staff. The union is preparing to ballot for strike action, arguing that the university’s financial reserves should be used to avoid redundancies.
Dr. Joey Whitfield, Cardiff UCU president and a staff member in the threatened School of Modern Languages, described the situation as devastating. “These cuts will harm staff, students, the city, and Wales as a whole,” he said, adding that many employees were left in tears upon hearing the news.
Cardiff University has stated that the consultation process will last for 90 days and that compulsory redundancies will only be made if absolutely necessary.