University of Sussex aims to cut hundreds of jobs

University of Sussex vice chancellor Sasha Roseneil said income had fallen significantly and more cuts needs to be made

Hundreds of jobs at the University of Sussex could be cut as part of a plan to reduce costs.

The university has announced a voluntary redundancy scheme, open to all staff which could see as many as 300 members of staff leave their roles.

Vice-chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil blamed "the long-term underfunding of higher education, ongoing inflationary pressures, and the sharp drop in international students this year, as a result of the previous government's policies".

Prof Roseneil said the university's income had "fallen significantly", adding that those who chose who took voluntary redundancy would receive a "good leavers package".

The university has been trying to cut costs as it faces various challenges

"We have done everything we can to make savings over the past year," said Prof Roseneil. 

"We have significantly reduced non-pay expenditure, and made cuts to our planned programme of investment in our estate and infrastructure. 

"Unfortunately, it is now necessary to reduce our costs further in the interests of the long-term financial sustainability of the University.

"This difficult decision will not distract us from ensuring that Sussex’s ambitious, creative and forward-thinking students continue to receive an inspirational and high-quality education, or from supporting our world-leading researchers in their ground-breaking contributions to scientific, social, and cultural understanding."