Dundee University confirms reduction in proposed job losses

Dundee University said it plans to cut 154 jobs as it deals with a seven-figure deficit, 33 fewer roles than previously proposed.

The university's original proposal in June was to cut 187 jobs, but this figure has been reduced following a 10-week consultation process.

Individual staff will be told later whether their roles are still at risk following the consultation.

The university has already cut about 675 jobs through voluntary redundancies, but said it still needed to make annual savings of about £20m - mostly from staff costs.

Dundee University said it "remains hopeful" that the job losses can be achieved through voluntary means, but said it cannot rule out compulsory redundancies.

The university said 38 new roles have been created as part of its restructure, which it said will present "potential opportunities for redeployment" for some staff members at risk of redundancy.

The university first announced a potential £30m deficit in November 2024 and "inevitable" job cuts.

In an email sent to all staff, the university's chief people officer Dawnne Mahmoud said employees who were previously told their jobs were at risk would be invited to meetings with their faculty vice president or director.

They will be told at the meeting if they are no longer potentially at risk, if they are confirmed as at risk of redundancy, or have been matched to a role.

The voluntary redundancy scheme for eligible staff will open on Wednesday.

The university court, its governing body, will be asked to approve the voluntary redundancies at its next meeting on 8 September.

The university has also released information on other areas previously thought to be at risk.

The university-run Botanic Garden, which includes a memorial sculpture to families who have lost babies, will receive funding until the end of July next year to allow the local community and stakeholders to "develop alternative proposals for its future".

The university also confirmed there would be no reduction to its counselling services or disability service advisor resources.

Its current mathematics undergraduate programme will remain in place for the next two academic years, while a redeveloped programme is designed and tested.

Meanwhile, members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Dundee University will strike for five weeks next month.

They will be on strike each weekday from 21 September until 23 October.

Members of the union, which includes academic and support staff, have staged 28 days of strike action in the city over the last year.

A Dundee UCU spokesperson said: "Even a reduced number of 154 job losses is too many on top of the jobs already lost.

"University management may have made minor changes to their plans as a result of the consultation, but UCU repeatedly and in detail pointed out the effects the cuts will have on students, workloads, and on the ability of the university to carry out its important mission for Scotland and the city of Dundee.

"That they are continuing with unnecessary job cuts of this scale indicates that our representations have fallen on deaf ears."

The Scottish government provided £40m in emergency funding last year to help stabilise the university, with ministers expecting at the time that this would limit job losses to about 300.

However, interim principal Prof Nigel Seaton told Holyrood's education committee in November that the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) had accepted more redundancies would still be needed.

A separate £22m support package from the Scottish Funding Council was approved in March 2025.

Dundee City Council leaders wrote to the Scottish government in June urging ministers to prevent further job losses at the university.

The letter, signed by all four political groups on the council, asked ministers to "identify every possible option" and consider additional financial support.

Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: "The university community has faced a significant period of uncertainty following historic financial and governance mismanagement, and I am clear it is vital that Dundee be supported to achieve a sustainable future.

"While the university is responsible for its own strategic and operational decisions, I expect staff, trade unions and students to be consulted meaningfully on its plans – in line with Fair Work principles.

"Compulsory redundancies should only be considered as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored."

She said the Scottish government had committed up to £62m to support the university's recovery and added that the Scottish Funding Council was responsible for monitoring the university's compliance with its funding conditions, including meaningful engagement with staff and students.

"No decisions have been taken on the release of funding and ministers are clear no public money will be used for job losses and the SFC will not release grant funding allocated under the Section 25 direction unless all conditions of funding are being complied with," she added.