Aberdeen University has seen its permanent staff headcount decrease by 443 positions over a two-year period, a reduction attributed to the institution’s ongoing financial recovery efforts, according to figures revealed by the P&J today. The university’s total permanent workforce, excluding temporary staff, stood at 3,666 in October 2023, falling to 3,223 by October 2025 through a combination of voluntary redundancies and early retirements.
This workforce adjustment has coincided with a significant improvement in the university’s financial health. Aberdeen University leadership has successfully reduced the institution’s deficit to £4.3 million, a considerable decrease from a £12.5 million shortfall reported in 2023.
However, the University and College Union (UCU) has voiced concerns regarding the impact of these job losses on the remaining staff. Dan Cutts, co-chair of the UCU in Aberdeen, stated: “With these significant job losses, workloads have risen sharp.”
He added: “Staff are under real pressure and are working harder than ever to support the university, and we will continue to deliver an excellent student experience.”
The reduction in staff numbers comes amidst an ongoing dispute between UCU officials and university management. The trade union is threatening industrial action unless compulsory redundancies are definitively ruled out. Members are expected to vote on potential strike action if their demands are not met, with particular frustration noted by Aberdeen UCU members following 41 voluntary departures in 2025 alone.
Mr Cutts also criticised the university’s engagement during discussions regarding the industrial unrest. He told The Press and Journal: “There has been very limited engagement from the senior management team about the situation we are facing, and that is a serious concern. Staff morale is under significant strain, driven by ongoing uncertainty.”
“At this stage, we are not confident that the approach being taken is fully in the best interests of students or staff. The union wants to work constructively with senior management to ensure decisions are properly scrutinised and serve the long-term interests of the whole university community. However, the lack of meaningful engagement so far makes it difficult to build trust, make progress, or have clarity about the direction of travel.”
In response, a spokesperson for Aberdeen University highlighted “regular management updates” concerning its “Adapting for Continued Success (ACS) transformation programme.”
This programme is a wide-scale restructuring initiative designed to address financial challenges and aims for the university to break even by 2028. The spokesperson noted that since October, 12 drop-in sessions and workshops have been held for staff and students, with more planned.
The Univrsity also confirmed that staff from various stakeholder groups and student representatives are involved in ACS workstreams. Trade unions, they added, have received regular updates on ACS, including a report to the university court in December, via existing partnership, negotiation, and consultation committees.
Formal consultation with trade unions is anticipated once plans are clarified. The university explained the staff reduction by citing an enhanced retirement and voluntary severance scheme, a pause in recruitment as part of its financial recovery strategy, and external factors like grant availability.
