Staff warn that deep, rapid cuts could reshape the university in ways that undermine its ability to deliver the programs and student experience expected.

The UCU opposes the cuts, blaming a large budget deficit on the Castle Meadow expansion and past one-off costs, and criticizing the strategy of investing surpluses into new buildings.

The university defends the measures as necessary to secure the institution’s future amid sector-wide financial challenges, insisting action is needed to sustain world-class teaching and research.

UCU members have passed a vote of no confidence in vice-chancellor Prof Jane Norman and are preparing a marking boycott that could disrupt student graduations this summer.

Redundancy risk letters have been issued to about 2,700 staff, with plans to cut more than 600 academic and support roles across departments with low staff-to-student ratios, including physics, medicine and health sciences.

Critics warn that eliminating high-status departments like chemistry could harm the university’s global reputation, recruitment, and future growth opportunities, potentially reducing revenue streams.

Thousands of University of Nottingham staff have been told their jobs are at risk as part of sweeping financial cuts, with the university warning it could run out of money by 2031.