University scraps plan to cut music and languages

Music and modern language courses will continue to be offered at Cardiff University after it backtracked on plans to close the departments.

The move to axe music prompted protests from students and musicians and was referenced in a letter about cuts to music education backed by stars such as Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Sir Elton John.

It follows a U-turn on proposals to axe nursing courses at the university, which were also part of major cuts announced by the university in January.

In an update to staff, Vice Chancellor Wendy Larner said music would have revised entry targets and content and modern language programmes would have smaller cohorts.

She also said plans to close two courses - ancient history and religion and theology - would go ahead, subject to final approval by the University Council.

Prof Larner said the university executive board had approved a proposal which would mean music and modern languages would still be offered within the new School of Global Humanities "albeit with revised structures and with a smaller staff base".

At the start of its consultation on job losses, the university said it would cut 400 jobs but the figure was updated to 138 earlier this month after changes to savings plans and the voluntary departure of dozens of staff.

It did not say whether the latest update would affect job figures.

The university has also pledged not to make any compulsory redundancies during 2025 as part of a deal with the University and College Union (UCU) to drop plans for industrial action this summer.

Final savings plans will be signed off by the University Council on 17 June.

Trade union Cardiff UCU said it was "good" to see the reversal of the plan but that it was "unacceptable that management continue to keep more than 400 staff in scope for redundancy with no end in sight".

"The physical and mental health effects of this are becoming unbearable for many of our members," it said.

The group added: "No redundancies would be needed at all if the university was willing to reduce its overly ambitious and self-imposed financial targets and draw on its vast sums of accessible cash to fund a longer recovery period."

While the organisation said it was working with management "in the spirit of collaboration", it is also consulting its members over future industrial action.