Alarm at real terms cuts to universities in spending review

UCU Scotland has expressed concern at the year-on-year real terms cuts to higher education set out in today's Scottish Government's Spending Review.

At a time when inflation is running at 9% and set to increase further, the flat cash settlement for the universities over the next four years will mean a year-on-year reduction in funding for higher education.

Responding to the spending review, UCU's Scotland official, Mary Senior said: 'Today's spending review makes grim reading for students, parents, and staff in Scotland's universities.  These year-on-year real terms cuts to university funding come at a time when staff are already at breaking point over unsafe workloads, unfair pay and pension cuts. 

'With redundancies already on the horizon, we need to have a funding settlement that allows the higher education sector to deliver the high-quality teaching,  research, student support, and knowledge exchange Scotland's economy and society needs.  The cuts set out today are a real blow.'