University of Kent seeks more job cuts to save £19.5m

More jobs will be cut at the University of Kent in a bid to save nearly £20 million, the institution has announced.

The university has opened a voluntary redundancy scheme and will not fill some vacant roles to cut costs after posting a deficit of £12m in its most recent financial statements.

A university spokesperson said the scheme was a response to falling numbers of international students across the UK, which had led to greater competition for home students.

It added the scheme aimed to “support with necessary pay cost savings”, but that it remained “on track” with a revised curriculum after previously announcing it would “phase out” several subjects.

“We remain on track with ambitious changes being introduced from September to better meet student and employer needs, including a revised curriculum, new academic year structure and increased employability and industry links built into our courses,” the university said.

Several vacancies would also be held back to try and make savings, it added.

The university previously announced it would stop recruiting students in art history, anthropology, health and social care, journalism, music and audio technology and philosophy and religious studies, and proposed to cut 58 jobs in February last year to respond to its “financial challenges”.

In its most recent financial statements, for 2022/23, the university posted a deficit of £12m.

Staff at the university voted to strike in April 2024 as the University and College Union (UCU) said the course cuts would have “devastating consequences”.

The university says it teaches nearly 19,000 students and employs more than 4,500 staff – including 1,200 academic staff.