The University of Aberdeen is facing significant internal dissent as it proceeds with a controversial restructuring plan that will see more than 100 staff positions at risk of redundancy, while simultaneously launching a recruitment drive for four new highly-paid executive dean roles. The move comes as the ancient Scottish institution grapples with substantial financial pressures, aiming to achieve £10 million in savings this financial year.
The university’s financial challenges are reflective of broader difficulties within the UK higher education sector. Aberdeen has reported an underlying structural deficit, with a £4.3 million deficit in the 2024/25 financial year, even after implementing initial savings measures. The institution aims to break even by the 2027/28 academic year, confronting a projected £12 million financial gap over the next two years. Across the UK, universities are battling rising operational costs, a freeze on domestic tuition fees since 2012, and a notable decline in international student numbers, particularly postgraduates, largely attributed to stricter UK visa regulations. Industry analysis suggests nearly half of UK higher education providers could face deficits in the 2025-26 financial year without urgent mitigating actions.
As part of its “drastic savings plan”, approved in April, the University will merge its 12 existing schools into four new faculties: Arts and Humanities; Business, Law and Social Sciences; Science and Engineering; and Medicine, Health and Life Sciences.
It has now been confirmed that each of these new faculties will be led by an executive dean, with annual salaries ranging from £112,000 to £140,000.
Principal Peter Edwards stated that these new roles are intended to “streamline the decision making” and enhance the university’s agility and efficiency. He added that the creation of these faculties and roles aligns Aberdeen with the structures of “many other universities.”
However, the restructuring has met with strong opposition from within the university community. The University Senate, the institution’s democratic academic body, along with trade union chiefs and staff, have voiced concerns. The University and College Union (UCU) has been particularly vocal, asserting that the plan will lead to “more lucrative, well-paid roles while over 100 jobs are at risk of redundancy.”
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UCU representatives contend that the changes will “make the institution even more sluggish and resistant to change,” highlighting that staff surveys indicate “workloads are already at the breaking point.”
The union also criticised what it described as “fundamentally broken” governance processes, noting that the Senate had previously voted down the restructuring, while staff have reportedly expressed fears of a “health and wellbeing” crisis due to job insecurity.
The university has reintroduced voluntary redundancy and early retirement schemes, with up to 111 academic posts potentially impacted. While compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out, the university maintains they would be a “last resort.”
