Ulster University: Londonderry's Magee campus loses psychology department

Stephen Farry said that the university sector needs fresh investment

Ulster University has confirmed that its psychology department at Magee in Derry is to move to the Coleraine Campus because of budget cuts.

The move follows an £8.6m cut in the subsidy received from the Department for Employment and Learning.

Universities Minister Stephen Farry said that the prospect of an expansion at Magee is now further down the agenda.

"You can't be expanding at the same time you are retracting," he said.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that the Ulster University is to close its school of modern languages at its Coleraine campus and cut maths degrees as a result of budget reductions.

Prof Paddy Nixon, the university's vice-chancellor, said consolidation was happening across the university but that student numbers at Magee would increase.

"At the end of this consolidation the percentage of the student base at Magee will increase from about 17.6% to about 19% and at the other two campuses it will decrease.

"Coleraine is going to become our life sciences campus primarily, Magee will become our technology and engineering campus and Belfast will have a particular focus associated also with technology and business.".

'Really challenged'

Goretti Horgan, vice president of the University and Colleges Union, criticised the move adding: "How is it that we can continue to have very highly paid people at the top, when people at the bottom are taking the bulk of the pain?"

Addressing the prospect of a delayed expansion of the Magee campus, Prof Nixon said they have no option but to save money somewhere.

"Until such time as the funding base changes for universities we're really challenged, we're fourth class citizens in education compared to England, Scotland and Wales."