UK University Cuts Deepen as Vice Chancellor Urges Tuition Fee Hike
Vice Chancellor Warns Current Funding Model Is Unsustainable
The vice chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, has called on the UK government to increase tuition fees in line with inflation, warning that the current funding model for higher education is “not working.” His comments come as universities across the UK face severe financial pressure, leading to sweeping job cuts and course closures.
Canterbury Christ Church is planning to axe up to 400 jobs, having already reduced its workforce by 148 through a voluntary redundancy scheme. The financial strain is largely attributed to stagnant tuition fees, changes to student visa rules, and inflationary cost increases.
“The tuition fees which were set in 2013 have only been slightly upgraded. They are worth two-thirds of what they were,” Prof Thirunamachandran told the BBC. “We’re forced to make hard decisions to keep the institution sustainable.”
Course Closures Spark Backlash
Among the cost-cutting measures is the controversial decision to phase out the university’s English Literature degree. The program will be discontinued once current students graduate, citing a lack of demand as the primary reason.
Second-year student Freya Hodge expressed disappointment: “In Canterbury, you’ve got an abundance of literary legends like Chaucer and Aphra Benn. To now actually get rid of the subject is just a betrayal of the city’s legacy.”
University of Kent Also Hit by Financial Challenges
The University of Kent is implementing similar austerity measures. It aims to save nearly £20 million this year, primarily through voluntary redundancies and not filling vacant roles. The university is also discontinuing six degree programs, including health and social care, art history, and philosophy.
Philosophy lecturer Dr. Taymaz Azimi, whose position will be terminated in 2026, voiced concern about job prospects: “Not only do new positions not open, we are losing the existing positions every year. So losing your job means really struggling.”
In a statement, the University of Kent said, “Sector finances are under severe pressure and, like many other institutions, we have been making wide-ranging changes to reflect what students and government are looking for from universities.”
Staff Under Stress as UCU Raises Alarm
Craig Potter, chair of the local branch of the University and Colleges Union (UCU), highlighted the emotional toll the cuts are taking on staff. “I have people come to me at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, in tears,” he said. “People are going off sick due to stress. It’s incredibly hard for everybody.”
Government Response
The Department for Education responded by saying: “This government inherited a sector facing serious financial risk and has taken tough decisions to fix the foundations of higher education.”
However, many in the sector argue that without a comprehensive funding reform, universities will continue to face difficult choices that could undermine the quality and diversity of UK higher education.
Category: Education, UK News, Higher Education, Government & Policy
Tags: UK university cuts, tuition fees UK, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Kent, course closures UK, staff redundancies university, UCU protests, Rama Thirunamachandran, higher education crisis UK, job losses in universities
