The University of Sussex’s plans to cut at least 200 jobs is causing “huge anxiety” among staff, a union has claimed, especially as about 500 workers have already left the institution.

A 45-day consultation has begun over the plans, which could see job losses in both academic and professional services departments, including in admissions, student support and IT services.

But Unison has argued that, given the university has already lost 500 staff in the past year through a voluntary redundancy scheme, the planned changes will increase the “strain and uncertainty” on remaining staff. 

The university said that it is looking to cut 200 full-time equivalent staff, and that it is looking to save about £35 million from its annual spend. The union noted that the job cuts could impact 240 staff in total.

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A total of 17 jobs are also at risk at the university’s students’ union and 12 at the Institute of Development Studies.

Sasha Roseneil, Sussex’s vice-chancellor, said, like “many” universities across the UK, “Sussex is facing the continued need to make very difficult decisions to address the impact of the financial sustainability crisis affecting UK higher education”.

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She said this has been driven by long-term underfunding of teaching and research, ongoing inflationary pressures, and a steep fall in international students caused by government policy changes.

Since 2023-24 the university has already “significantly reduced expenditure” through non-pay savings, but, “despite this, we still need to make further savings”, Roseneil added.

“Sussex has a deeply committed community of staff and students, and I am very sorry that we have not been able to avoid this announcement of job losses. 

“The process on which we are about to embark will not, however, distract us from our focus on giving our students a rich, inspirational and high-quality education, and on supporting our staff as they make distinctive, inventive, and positive contributions through their world-leading research.” 

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However, Jo Galloway, the Unison south-east regional secretary, said staff have already “endured wave after wave of cuts and uncertainty”. 

“It’s unacceptable to ask remaining employees to carry even heavier workloads after hundreds of colleagues have gone.

“Universities cannot cut their way to stability while expecting staff and students to pay the price. These proposals will cause huge anxiety across the higher education sector and the south east, and the union will do all it can to protect staff and prevent job losses.

“Students will also feel the impact. Cutting jobs in student support and services risks damaging the quality of students’ education and their overall university experience.”

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juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com