University to consider axing courses to cut costs

The University of Northampton recently announced it would be doing a second search for staff members willing to take voluntary severance

A university facing financial pressures with a £19m budget deficit is considering cuts to its curriculum.

The University of Northampton (UON) said in a letter to students it would undertake a consultation on courses in 2025 to "maximise the opportunity for high graduate outcomes".

It recently announced it would be planning a second search for staff willing to leave their jobs, after an initial voluntary severance scheme in July.

A UON spokesperson said universities across the UK were facing "pressing challenges" and it would help students "explore alternative options" if components of their courses were cut.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the university would be making decisions on courses in early 2025 and current students would not be affected if they completed studies in the standard period of time.

A group of illustration students have started a petition to save the course after finding out the subject is one of those up for consultation.

UON said it would help students "explore alternative options" if components of their courses were cut

Megan Clarke, 22, a first-year BA illustration student, worried job cuts would affect the level of teaching.

"You feel let down by the uni because you have signed on to this course that you expect is going to support you and wants you to thrive.

"It feels weird to come here thinking you're in a place where they value creativity, for them to say they're thinking about cutting most of that out."

Labour MP Mike Reader said a second round of voluntary redundancies was a warning the higher education sector needed urgent support.

"The university is crucial for developing the talented workforce our town needs. It is vital to our local economy and town centre," he said.

The university previously said: "Economic, market, and policy factors, such as frozen tuition fees, rising operational and energy costs, and recruitment issues across the sector, have threatened higher education’s financial stability in 2024 and beyond.

"The decision to begin this process of consultation has not been reached lightly, and we appreciate that it is not an easy choice for those colleagues who may opt to take the enhanced voluntary severance package we will offer."