UCU comment on financial sustainability of universities and over half of Scotland's universities in deficit

'It comes as no surprise to workers in Scotland's universities that the sector is in financial crisis, given the number of jobs under threat or already disappearing, and the derisory pay offers being imposed. To see over half of Scotland's universities in a deficit position for this academic year 2025/26, and the operating surpluses of the sector decline by over 90% between 2022/3 and 2023/4, simply confirms the enormous challenges universities are facing. UCU has been saying for years that Scotland's universities must be properly funded, and that the year on year funding cuts are jeopardising jobs, courses and students' education.

'We have to move away from a marketised system that relies on international tuition fees to cross-subsidise teaching and research. We have to properly fund our universities to enable them to continue delivering the essential teaching, student support and research needed for Scotland's economy, public services and communities at large'.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: 'Workers in our universities are sick of being the shock absorbers for universities,  through job cuts, unsafe workloads, insecure employment contracts and insulting pay awards that are way below inflation. That's why UCU is in dispute with university employers over pay and conditions and is moving to a UK-wide ballot over pay and job security.'