Ulster University to cut up to 450 jobs

Ulster University has announced plans to potentially cut up to 450 jobs among its workforce. This development was communicated to staff during a meeting chaired by the vice-chancellor, Professor Paul Bartholomew, on Wednesday. While the university hopes to implement these reductions through voluntary redundancy schemes, it has not ruled out the possibility of compulsory redundancies. Currently, the institution employs approximately 3,100 people.

The university faces the need to save around £25 million amid significant financial challenges. Its latest financial accounts for 2025 revealed an income of £304 million accompanied by an operating loss of £20.2 million. An official spokesperson for Ulster University commented that redundancies have become unavoidable across the higher education sector. However, it remains unclear which specific departments or campuses—spanning Belfast, Londonderry, Coleraine, and Qatar—will be impacted by the proposed job cuts. The university confirmed that any redundancy procedures will involve consultations with relevant staff unions.

In a statement provided to BBC News NI, a university spokesperson expressed regret over the circumstances, explaining that efforts had been made to avoid redundancies by collaborating with the Department for the Economy to explore potential changes to Northern Ireland’s higher education funding model. However, it was recently confirmed that a sustainable funding solution will not materialize, leaving the university with no alternative but to reduce its operational costs.

The announcement has been met with strong opposition from union representatives. Norman Hagan, chair of the Ulster University branch of the University and College Union (UCU), described the proposed cuts as “deeply alarming and unsustainable,” emphasizing that the removal of hundreds of posts would severely damage educational quality and the student experience. He warned that such actions could have lasting negative effects on local communities and the wider regional economy. The union has pledged to resist compulsory redundancies and demands transparency, genuine consultation, and the right for members to challenge the decision process, stating, “We will not stand idly by and let our university flounder through government or university neglect.”

Other university staff expressed similar distress. Emma Campbell, a UU lecturer and UCU member, said, “We are all just devastated there is so much fear and anxiety across all of the campuses.” She criticized the lack of detail provided at the meeting, noting that the session was not conducive to meaningful dialogue or response. Meanwhile, UCU committee member Aisling O’Beirn described herself as “utterly devastated,” highlighting the important role higher education plays in a post-conflict society like Northern Ireland and pointing out the limited information currently available regarding the situation

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