University faces £22m budget shortfall

The University of Plymouth has confirmed it is grappling with a £22m budget shortfall.

It comes after the university said about 200 jobs may be affected by budget cuts.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, which includes the School of Art, Design and Architecture, has been asked to make £4.6m in savings, according to a document seen by the BBC.

In a statement, the university said it had to make savings and "take difficult decisions" but said it was doing everything it could to look after staff and avoid compulsory redundancies, whilst protecting the quality of the student experience, which it added was its number one priority.

The university, which employs more than 2,500 staff and serves more than 19,000 students across its two main campuses, said: "We are reviewing courses in some areas, during a process of consultation with colleagues.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further regarding specific subjects until that process has concluded, but we have been in touch with our current students to reassure them they will be able to complete their studies as planned.

"Any changes to our provision will be aimed at making the University of Plymouth more resilient and better able to meet the demands of students, now and into the future."

The university said in an earlier statement it was "well-placed to weather the storm", but said it had seen increases to costs which were outside of its control - combined with a 10% drop in income.

"As things stand, the proposals we're considering could affect around 200 roles, but this is subject to change as we consult with colleagues and trade unions," a spokesperson said.

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