Precarious contracts in HE - institution snapshot

15 April 2016

In 2016 UCU wrote to every university in the UK where the union has a branch asking them to engage with us in tackling the abuse of casual contracts.

We asked institutions to confirm that they were willing to eradicate any continuing use of zero-hours contracts and work with us in a joint review of the use of insecure contracts, informing that we intended to publish this report into the sector's practices.

In the tables below we have collated the results of this exercise alongside the available data on their use of various forms of insecure, precarious and casual contracts. We do not claim that this is authoritative as universities are not subject to rigorous reporting standards on their use of insecure contracts. However, this is based on available data that they have provided.

How to use the data: You can use these tables to see how your institution ranks in a series of indexes of insecurity. You can examine the information we have collated for yourself for each institution and you can use it to ask questions of your own university, whether you are a member of staff, a student or just an interested observer.

How to understand the tables: A full explanation of how to read these tables is included in the reports we have published alongside the data tables. You can read the reports here: Precarious work in higher education: a snapshot of insecure contracts and institutional attitudes, Apr 16 [503kb].

You can also read the latest report on our campaign against precarious contracts in HE and what the latest data reveals: Precarious work in higher education, November 2016 update [423kb]

Download the complete data file for more detail, including the full institution breakdown by grade: 2016-17 full data tables [304kb].

Data snapshot

Institution	Insecurity ranking	% of all academic staff on insecure contracts	Open-ended/permanent contracts	Fixed-term contracts	Atypical contracts	Insecurity ranking	% of all teaching staff on insecure contracts	Open-ended/permanent contracts	Fixed-term contracts	Atypical contracts
*UK total	-/164	50.9%	136,010	69,355	71,705	-/164	46.4%	118,215	37,350	65,095
Aberystwyth University	117/164	31.9%	540	250	5	127/164	23.6%	465	145	0
Anglia Ruskin University	14/164	68.3%	815	60	1,695	8/164	68.6%	800	50	1695
Aston University	40=/164	56.4%	455	275	315	52/164	48.2%	435	145	260
Bangor University	19/164	65.3%	585	415	685	26/164	59.5%	545	235	565
Bath Spa University	95/164	41.1%	355	250	0	83/164	41.5%	345	245	0
Birkbeck College	69/164	50.0%	680	450	230	54=/164	47.2%	655	355	230
Birmingham City University	147/164	13.9%	1,765	105	180	157/164	4.6%	1,760	85	0
Bishop Grosseteste University	64=/164	50.9%	90	10	85	46/164	51.4%	85	5	85
Bournemouth University	144/164	16.7%	850	105	65	144/164	12.4%	815	95	20
Brunel University London	71=/164	49.2%	590	545	30	80=/164	42.0%	580	395	25
Buckinghamshire New University	129/164	26.4%	335	120	0	125/164	26.4%	335	120	0
Canterbury Christ Church University	52/164	54.0%	665	140	640	37/164	54.3%	635	115	640
Cardiff Metropolitan University	153/164	8.0%	680	60	0	153=/164	6.3%	665	45	0
Cardiff University	74/164	48.6%	2,485	980	1,370	65/164	44.7%	2,025	265	1370
City, University of London	62=/164	51.8%	1,015	1,090	0	33=/164	54.7%	890	1,075	Not reported
City, University of London	62=/164	51.8%	1,015	1,090	0	33=/164	54.7%	890	1,075	Not reported
Conservatoire for Dance and Drama	136/164	22.8%	240	30	40	128/164	23.0%	235	30	40
Courtauld Institute of Art*	18/164	65.6%	35	10	55	15/164	63.2%	35	5	55
Coventry University	86=/164	44.2%	1,725	680	690	97/164	34.8%	1,675	675	220
Cranfield University	67/164	50.5%	525	155	385	56=/164	46.9%	430	15	365
De Montfort University	114/164	32.6%	1,190	210	370	140/164	14.4%	1,185	195	5
Edge Hill University	24=/164	63.6%	560	460	525	13/164	63.8%	555	455	525
Edinburgh Napier University	146/164	14.5%	780	135	0	148/164	10.4%	735	85	0
Falmouth University	123/164	29.1%	290	10	110	118=/164	28.4%	290	5	110
Glasgow Caledonian University	54/164	53.9%	670	120	665	39/164	53.9%	625	65	665
Glasgow School of Art	157/164	6.5%	205	15	0	156/164	5.6%	170	10	0
Glyndŵr University	115/164	32.5%	195	35	60	106/164	32.1%	180	25	60
Goldsmiths College	32/164	61.6%	715	315	830	22/164	61.2%	705	280	830
Guildhall School of Music and Drama	137/164	21.4%	535	145	0	135/164	21.3%	480	130	0
Harper Adams University	151/164	10.1%	155	10	10	146/164	12.1%	145	10	10
Heriot-Watt University	70/164	49.9%	615	225	390	67=/164	44.5%	530	35	390
Heythrop College	97/164	39.7%	35	25	0	92/164	36.4%	35	20	0
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine	49/164	54.4%	2,050	2,280	170	130/164	22.5%	1,465	255	170
Institute of Education	#N/A					-/164				Not reported
Keele University	46=/164	55.0%	625	185	580	44/164	52.5%	580	95	Not reported
King's College London	38/164	57.6%	2,050	2,790	0	96/164	34.9%	1,965	1,055	0
Kingston University	83/164	45.8%	990	120	720	80=/164	42.0%	975	85	620
Leeds Arts University	139/164	20.9%	145	20	20	132=/164	22.2%	140	20	Not reported
Leeds Beckett University	61/164	52.0%	950	485	545	99/164	33.7%	945	480	0
Leeds Trinity University	90/164	43.1%	155	25	90	74/164	42.6%	155	25	90
Liverpool Hope University	93/164	41.9%	265	35	155	76/164	42.2%	260	35	155
Liverpool John Moores University	130/164	25.9%	1,065	370	0	129/164	22.9%	1,045	310	0
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine	15/164	67.7%	65	135	0	2/164	87.5%	10	70	0
London Business School	161/164	2.7%	110	5	0	162=/164	0.0%	100	0	0
London Metropolitan University	57=/164	53.0%	415	20	450	33=/164	54.7%	385	15	450
London School of Economics and Political Science	48/164	54.5%	780	930	5	50/164	49.0%	660	630	5
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine	7/164	72.3%	285	555	195	69=/164	43.9%	275	215	0
London South Bank University	91/164	42.2%	640	470	0	84/164	41.1%	630	440	0
Loughborough University	59=/164	52.3%	1,005	530	570	56=/164	46.9%	945	265	570
Middlesex University	57=/164	53.0%	880	165	825	43/164	52.6%	850	130	815
Newman University	135/164	22.9%	155	10	35	132=/164	22.2%	140	10	30
Norwich University of the Arts	140/164	20.6%	175	30	15	138/164	15.0%	170	30	0
Oxford Brookes University	150/164	12.4%	1,180	140	25	149/164	8.2%	1,175	105	0
Plymouth College of Art	155/164	7.1%	135	5	5	151/164	7.1%	130	5	5
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh	10=/164	69.5%	190	65	365	7/164	69.8%	175	50	355
Queen Mary University of London	24=/164	63.6%	1,525	860	1,800	12/164	64.0%	1,190	395	1720
Ravensbourne*	35/164	60.4%	90	125	10	19/164	61.4%	85	125	10
Roehampton University	122/164	30.0%	505	40	175	112/164	30.3%	495	40	175
Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance	107=/164	34.1%	50	25	0	100=/164	33.3%	50	25	Not reported
Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance	107=/164	34.1%	50	25	0	100=/164	33.3%	50	25	Not reported
Royal Academy of Music	103=/164	37.7%	225	70	70	88=/164	38.4%	225	70	70
Royal Agricultural University	134/164	23.8%	60	5	15	123/164	26.7%	55	5	15
Royal College of Art*	1/164	87.1%	140	30	910	1/164	87.6%	130	10	910
Royal College of Music	152/164	10.0%	270	20	10	152/164	7.0%	265	15	5
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	143/164	17.0%	355	20	55	137/164	16.5%	355	15	55
Royal Holloway and Bedford New College	85/164	44.5%	685	540	10	87/164	39.7%	660	435	0
Royal Northern College of Music	162/164	1.8%	325	5	0	161/164	1.5%	325	5	0
Sheffield Hallam University	159/164	4.8%	1,905	95	0	158/164	3.2%	1,800	60	0
Southampton Solent University	145/164	15.8%	630	120	0	139/164	14.5%	620	105	0
SRUC	148/164	13.2%	275	40	5	150/164	7.9%	175	10	5
St George's, University of London	22/164	64.5%	305	145	405	25/164	60.4%	285	70	Not reported
St Mary's University College	112/164	32.8%	40	20	0	100=/164	33.3%	40	20	0
St Mary's University, Twickenham	89/164	43.3%	280	195	20	69=/164	43.9%	275	195	20
Staffordshire University	10=/164	69.5%	555	340	920	31/164	55.6%	550	335	355
Stranmillis University College	103=/164	37.7%	45	10	15	102/164	33.3%	40	10	10
Swansea University	64=/164	50.9%	975	445	565	61/164	45.3%	895	175	565
Teesside University	59=/164	52.3%	615	115	555	114/164	29.7%	605	75	180
The Arts University Bournemouth	160/164	3.3%	350	10	0	160/164	2.8%	345	10	Not reported
The Institute of Cancer Research	37/164	57.9%	280	385	0	110/164	30.8%	45	20	Not reported
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts	84/164	45.5%	60	10	40	60/164	45.5%	60	10	Not reported
The Manchester Metropolitan University	96/164	40.3%	1,525	1,030	0	88=/164	39.4%	1,495	970	Not reported
The National Film and Television School	163/164	0.0%	20	0	0	162=/164	0.0%	20	0	0
The Nottingham Trent University	158/164	6.1%	1,760	115	0	155/164	6.1%	1,760	115	Not reported
The Open University*	2/164	86.3%	855	4,400	950	4/164	85.1%	815	4,270	Not reported
The Queen's University of Belfast	16/164	66.9%	1,065	600	1,550	20=/164	61.3%	1,020	65	Not reported
The Robert Gordon University	125/164	28.3%	500	180	15	121/164	27.5%	475	165	Not reported
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama*	3/164	85.5%	60	15	355	3/164	85.9%	60	10	355
The Royal Veterinary College	101/164	38.3%	185	105	10	142/164	14.0%	185	20	Not reported
The University of Aberdeen	138/164	21.0%	1,435	20	360	143/164	13.3%	985	10	Not reported
The University of Bath	40=/164	56.4%	840	525	560	54=/164	47.2%	815	210	Not reported
The University of Birmingham	20/164	65.0%	1,985	1,640	2,035	18/164	61.5%	1,685	715	Not reported
The University of Bolton	120=/164	30.1%	320	30	110	113/164	29.9%	305	20	Not reported
The University of Bradford	45/164	55.3%	515	70	565	33=/164	54.7%	505	45	Not reported
The University of Brighton	111/164	33.0%	1,170	575	5	111/164	30.6%	1,075	470	Not reported
The University of Bristol	81/164	45.9%	2,550	630	1,535	42/164	53.2%	1,490	160	Not reported
The University of Buckingham	21/164	64.8%	145	20	245	10/164	67.5%	125	15	Not reported
The University of Cambridge	102/164	37.9%	3,795	2,170	140	147/164	11.2%	1,665	210	Not reported
The University of Central Lancashire	131/164	25.5%	1,065	340	25	134/164	21.5%	1,040	260	Not reported
The University of Chichester	116/164	32.0%	380	180	0	107/164	31.2%	375	170	Not reported
The University of Dundee	40=/164	56.4%	1,035	390	945	51/164	48.3%	675	70	Not reported
The University of East Anglia	39/164	57.3%	1,045	755	645	47/164	50.4%	995	415	Not reported
The University of East London	29=/164	62.7%	635	280	790	41/164	53.3%	610	265	Not reported
The University of Edinburgh	46=/164	55.0%	2,970	1,680	1,960	49/164	49.2%	2,315	285	Not reported
The University of Essex	76/164	48.0%	765	425	280	73/164	42.9%	745	325	Not reported
The University of Exeter	23/164	63.8%	1,275	785	1,465	30/164	58.0%	1,185	170	Not reported
The University of Glasgow	99/164	39.4%	2,825	1,015	825	59/164	45.9%	1,815	780	Not reported
The University of Greenwich	75/164	48.2%	820	400	365	53/164	47.4%	795	350	Not reported
The University of Huddersfield	77/164	47.9%	795	105	625	63/164	45.0%	710	50	Not reported
The University of Hull	98/164	39.6%	835	200	350	95/164	35.0%	790	90	Not reported
The University of Kent	36/164	58.6%	835	590	595	32/164	54.9%	800	430	Not reported
The University of Lancaster	50=/164	54.1%	975	960	185	64/164	44.8%	930	615	Not reported
The University of Leeds	73/164	49.1%	2,460	1,025	1,355	67=/164	44.5%	2,095	335	Not reported
The University of Leicester	71=/164	49.2%	1,300	345	920	48/164	50.1%	1,005	155	Not reported
The University of Lincoln	86=/164	44.2%	760	440	160	77=/164	42.1%	750	395	Not reported
The University of Liverpool	27/164	63.4%	1,785	1,050	2,040	28/164	58.2%	1,645	345	Not reported
The University of Manchester	8/164	71.6%	2,635	2,560	4,080	16/164	62.9%	2,405	580	Not reported
The University of Northampton	119/164	30.5%	535	215	20	118=/164	28.4%	530	200	Not reported
The University of Oxford	5/164	76.9%	2,260	4,505	3,015	20=/164	61.3%	1,610	300	Not reported
The University of Portsmouth	120=/164	30.1%	1,160	500	0	115/164	29.6%	1,155	485	Not reported
The University of Reading	88/164	43.8%	955	745	0	104/164	32.8%	880	430	Not reported
The University of Salford	100/164	38.9%	880	120	440	90/164	38.3%	870	100	Not reported
The University of Sheffield	66/164	50.7%	2,105	1,165	995	94/164	35.7%	1,740	180	Not reported
The University of Southampton	34/164	60.7%	1,875	1,160	1,735	45/164	52.2%	1,645	315	Not reported
The University of St Andrews	24=/164	63.6%	700	465	760	29/164	58.1%	645	150	Not reported
The University of Stirling	110/164	33.2%	610	305	0	124/164	26.6%	580	210	Not reported
The University of Strathclyde	17/164	66.2%	1,005	575	1,400	24/164	60.5%	850	85	Not reported
The University of Sunderland	53/164	53.9%	490	290	285	40/164	53.8%	485	280	Not reported
The University of Surrey	78/164	47.2%	935	490	350	85/164	41.0%	865	255	Not reported
The University of Sussex	68/164	50.3%	1,180	685	510	77=/164	42.1%	1,140	340	Not reported
The University of the West of Scotland	132/164	25.4%	515	45	130	131/164	22.3%	505	20	Not reported
The University of Wales (central functions)	156/164	7.0%	40	5	0	-/164				-
The University of Warwick	9/164	70.0%	1,460	1,395	2,020	11/164	66.6%	1,345	670	Not reported
The University of West London	31/164	61.9%	365	595	5	17/164	62.2%	365	595	Not reported
The University of Westminster	92/164	42.1%	1,095	675	120	77=/164	42.1%	1,050	645	Not reported
The University of Winchester	83/164	45.7%	395	335	0	62/164	45.3%	375	310	Not reported
The University of Wolverhampton	118/164	31.6%	805	35	335	109/164	31.0%	790	25	Not reported
The University of York	43/164	55.7%	1,250	545	1,030	86/164	40.9%	1,060	115	Not reported
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance	149/164	12.7%	325	45	0	145/164	12.3%	320	45	0
University College Birmingham	127/164	27.3%	290	15	95	120/164	27.8%	285	15	95
University College London	113/164	32.7%	7,070	345	3,085	58/164	46.4%	3,695	125	Not reported
University for the Creative Arts	28/164	63.1%	360	20	590	14/164	63.5%	350	20	590
University of Abertay Dundee	142/164	17.6%	185	35	5	141/164	14.3%	180	30	Not reported
University of Bedfordshire	50=/164	54.1%	500	90	495	38/164	54.2%	490	85	Not reported
University of Chester	6/164	73.6%	415	215	950	6/164	73.2%	410	200	Not reported
University of Cumbria	124/164	28.6%	370	150	0	116/164	28.7%	360	145	Not reported
University of Derby	106/164	34.8%	1,235	75	585	98/164	34.4%	1,230	60	Not reported
University of Durham	55/164	53.6%	1,160	545	795	72/164	43.1%	1,075	130	Not reported
University of Gloucestershire	56/164	53.1%	410	245	215	91/164	37.9%	385	235	Not reported
University of Hertfordshire	133/164	25.2%	1,580	145	390	159/164	2.9%	1,515	45	Not reported
University of London (Institutes and activities)*	4/164	83.5%	45	50	180	5/164	83.3%	30	25	Not reported
University of Northumbria at Newcastle	109/164	33.4%	1,220	160	455	117/164	28.6%	1,210	100	Not reported
University of Nottingham	44/164	55.5%	2,380	1,040	1,935	71/164	43.5%	2,030	140	Not reported
University of Plymouth	29=/164	62.7%	935	410	1,160	23/164	61.0%	885	225	Not reported
University of South Wales	154/164	7.2%	1,680	125	5	153=/164	6.3%	1,640	105	Not reported
University of St Mark and St John	12=/164	68.4%	90	10	185	27/164	58.5%	85	10	Not reported
University of Suffolk	105=/164	35.9%	190	10	95	93=/164	36.2%	185	10	Not reported
University of Suffolk	105=/164	35.9%	190	10	95	93=/164	36.2%	185	10	Not reported
University of the Arts, London	12=/164	68.4%	1,035	2,235	0	9/164	68.3%	1,035	2,235	Not reported
University of the Highlands and Islands	126/164	27.7%	35	5	5	100=/164	33.3%	10	0	Not reported
University of the West of England, Bristol	80/164	46.2%	1,235	410	650	66/164	44.6%	1,185	305	Not reported
University of Ulster	79/164	46.8%	820	440	285	75/164	42.5%	805	310	Not reported
University of Wales Trinity Saint David	141/164	20.2%	655	90	75	136/164	18.7%	630	70	Not reported
University of Worcester	94/164	41.7%	460	330	0	82/164	41.7%	440	315	Not reported
York St John University	128/164	27.0%	310	15	100	122/164	27.1%	310	15	100

Note: Institutions marked with an asterisk (*) in the tables are to be considered atypical. These include the Open University which operates a singular employment model, employing home working associate lecturers. UCU is in discussion with the OU about this model at this time. Other atypical institutions are arts-based specialist colleges such as the Royal Colleges of Art and Music, Central School of Speech and Drama, Ravensbourne and the Conservatoires based in London and Scotland. These institutions tend to employ many part-timers to contribute to courses who are substantively employed elsewhere or who have their own practices.

Last updated: 14 May 2020

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