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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]

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


Data snapshot

InstitutionInsecurity ranking% of all academic staff on insecure contractsOpen-ended/permanent contractsFixed-term contractsAtypical contractsInsecurity ranking% of all teaching staff on insecure contractsOpen-ended/permanent contractsFixed-term contracts

 

Atypical contracts

*UK total-/16450.9%136,01069,35571,705-/16446.4%118,21537,35065,095
Aberystwyth University117/16431.9%5402505127/16423.6%4651450
Anglia Ruskin University14/16468.3%815601,6958/16468.6%800501695
Aston University40=/16456.4%45527531552/16448.2%435145260
Bangor University19/16465.3%58541568526/16459.5%545235565
Bath Spa University95/16441.1%355250083/16441.5%3452450
Birkbeck College69/16450.0%68045023054=/16447.2%655355230
Birmingham City University147/16413.9%1,765105180157/1644.6%1,760850
Bishop Grosseteste University64=/16450.9%90108546/16451.4%85585
Bournemouth University144/16416.7%85010565144/16412.4%8159520
Brunel University London71=/16449.2%5905453080=/16442.0%58039525
Buckinghamshire New University129/16426.4%3351200125/16426.4%3351200
Canterbury Christ Church University52/16454.0%66514064037/16454.3%635115640
Cardiff Metropolitan University153/1648.0%680600153=/1646.3%665450
Cardiff University74/16448.6%2,4859801,37065/16444.7%2,0252651370
City, University of London62=/16451.8%1,0151,090033=/16454.7%8901,075Not reported
City, University of London62=/16451.8%1,0151,090033=/16454.7%8901,075Not reported
Conservatoire for Dance and Drama136/16422.8%2403040128/16423.0%2353040
Courtauld Institute of Art*18/16465.6%35105515/16463.2%35555
Coventry University86=/16444.2%1,72568069097/16434.8%1,675675220
Cranfield University67/16450.5%52515538556=/16446.9%43015365
De Montfort University114/16432.6%1,190210370140/16414.4%1,1851955
Edge Hill University24=/16463.6%56046052513/16463.8%555455525
Edinburgh Napier University146/16414.5%7801350148/16410.4%735850
Falmouth University123/16429.1%29010110118=/16428.4%2905110
Glasgow Caledonian University54/16453.9%67012066539/16453.9%62565665
Glasgow School of Art157/1646.5%205150156/1645.6%170100
Glyndŵr University115/16432.5%1953560106/16432.1%1802560
Goldsmiths College32/16461.6%71531583022/16461.2%705280830
Guildhall School of Music and Drama137/16421.4%5351450135/16421.3%4801300
Harper Adams University151/16410.1%1551010146/16412.1%1451010
Heriot-Watt University70/16449.9%61522539067=/16444.5%53035390
Heythrop College97/16439.7%3525092/16436.4%35200
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine49/16454.4%2,0502,280170130/16422.5%1,465255170
Institute of Education#N/A    -/164   Not reported
Keele University46=/16455.0%62518558044/16452.5%58095Not reported
King's College London38/16457.6%2,0502,790096/16434.9%1,9651,0550
Kingston University83/16445.8%99012072080=/16442.0%97585620
Leeds Arts University139/16420.9%1452020132=/16422.2%14020Not reported
Leeds Beckett University61/16452.0%95048554599/16433.7%9454800
Leeds Trinity University90/16443.1%155259074/16442.6%1552590
Liverpool Hope University93/16441.9%2653515576/16442.2%26035155
Liverpool John Moores University130/16425.9%1,0653700129/16422.9%1,0453100
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine15/16467.7%6513502/16487.5%10700
London Business School161/1642.7%11050162=/1640.0%10000
London Metropolitan University57=/16453.0%4152045033=/16454.7%38515450
London School of Economics and Political Science48/16454.5%780930550/16449.0%6606305
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine7/16472.3%28555519569=/16443.9%2752150
London South Bank University91/16442.2%640470084/16441.1%6304400
Loughborough University59=/16452.3%1,00553057056=/16446.9%945265570
Middlesex University57=/16453.0%88016582543/16452.6%850130815
Newman University135/16422.9%1551035132=/16422.2%1401030
Norwich University of the Arts140/16420.6%1753015138/16415.0%170300
Oxford Brookes University150/16412.4%1,18014025149/1648.2%1,1751050
Plymouth College of Art155/1647.1%13555151/1647.1%13055
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh10=/16469.5%190653657/16469.8%17550355
Queen Mary University of London24=/16463.6%1,5258601,80012/16464.0%1,1903951720
Ravensbourne*35/16460.4%901251019/16461.4%8512510
Roehampton University122/16430.0%50540175112/16430.3%49540175
Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance107=/16434.1%50250100=/16433.3%5025Not reported
Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance107=/16434.1%50250100=/16433.3%5025Not reported
Royal Academy of Music103=/16437.7%225707088=/16438.4%2257070
Royal Agricultural University134/16423.8%60515123/16426.7%55515
Royal College of Art*1/16487.1%140309101/16487.6%13010910
Royal College of Music152/16410.0%2702010152/1647.0%265155
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland143/16417.0%3552055137/16416.5%3551555
Royal Holloway and Bedford New College85/16444.5%6855401087/16439.7%6604350
Royal Northern College of Music162/1641.8%32550161/1641.5%32550
Sheffield Hallam University159/1644.8%1,905950158/1643.2%1,800600
Southampton Solent University145/16415.8%6301200139/16414.5%6201050
SRUC148/16413.2%275405150/1647.9%175105
St George's, University of London22/16464.5%30514540525/16460.4%28570Not reported
St Mary's University College112/16432.8%40200100=/16433.3%40200
St Mary's University, Twickenham89/16443.3%2801952069=/16443.9%27519520
Staffordshire University10=/16469.5%55534092031/16455.6%550335355
Stranmillis University College103=/16437.7%451015102/16433.3%401010
Swansea University64=/16450.9%97544556561/16445.3%895175565
Teesside University59=/16452.3%615115555114/16429.7%60575180
The Arts University Bournemouth160/1643.3%350100160/1642.8%34510Not reported
The Institute of Cancer Research37/16457.9%2803850110/16430.8%4520Not reported
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts84/16445.5%60104060/16445.5%6010Not reported
The Manchester Metropolitan University96/16440.3%1,5251,030088=/16439.4%1,495970Not reported
The National Film and Television School163/1640.0%2000162=/1640.0%2000
The Nottingham Trent University158/1646.1%1,7601150155/1646.1%1,760115Not reported
The Open University*2/16486.3%8554,4009504/16485.1%8154,270Not reported
The Queen's University of Belfast16/16466.9%1,0656001,55020=/16461.3%1,02065Not reported
The Robert Gordon University125/16428.3%50018015121/16427.5%475165Not reported
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama*3/16485.5%60153553/16485.9%6010355
The Royal Veterinary College101/16438.3%18510510142/16414.0%18520Not reported
The University of Aberdeen138/16421.0%1,43520360143/16413.3%98510Not reported
The University of Bath40=/16456.4%84052556054=/16447.2%815210Not reported
The University of Birmingham20/16465.0%1,9851,6402,03518/16461.5%1,685715Not reported
The University of Bolton120=/16430.1%32030110113/16429.9%30520Not reported
The University of Bradford45/16455.3%5157056533=/16454.7%50545Not reported
The University of Brighton111/16433.0%1,1705755111/16430.6%1,075470Not reported
The University of Bristol81/16445.9%2,5506301,53542/16453.2%1,490160Not reported
The University of Buckingham21/16464.8%1452024510/16467.5%12515Not reported
The University of Cambridge102/16437.9%3,7952,170140147/16411.2%1,665210Not reported
The University of Central Lancashire131/16425.5%1,06534025134/16421.5%1,040260Not reported
The University of Chichester116/16432.0%3801800107/16431.2%375170Not reported
The University of Dundee40=/16456.4%1,03539094551/16448.3%67570Not reported
The University of East Anglia39/16457.3%1,04575564547/16450.4%995415Not reported
The University of East London29=/16462.7%63528079041/16453.3%610265Not reported
The University of Edinburgh46=/16455.0%2,9701,6801,96049/16449.2%2,315285Not reported
The University of Essex76/16448.0%76542528073/16442.9%745325Not reported
The University of Exeter23/16463.8%1,2757851,46530/16458.0%1,185170Not reported
The University of Glasgow99/16439.4%2,8251,01582559/16445.9%1,815780Not reported
The University of Greenwich75/16448.2%82040036553/16447.4%795350Not reported
The University of Huddersfield77/16447.9%79510562563/16445.0%71050Not reported
The University of Hull98/16439.6%83520035095/16435.0%79090Not reported
The University of Kent36/16458.6%83559059532/16454.9%800430Not reported
The University of Lancaster50=/16454.1%97596018564/16444.8%930615Not reported
The University of Leeds73/16449.1%2,4601,0251,35567=/16444.5%2,095335Not reported
The University of Leicester71=/16449.2%1,30034592048/16450.1%1,005155Not reported
The University of Lincoln86=/16444.2%76044016077=/16442.1%750395Not reported
The University of Liverpool27/16463.4%1,7851,0502,04028/16458.2%1,645345Not reported
The University of Manchester8/16471.6%2,6352,5604,08016/16462.9%2,405580Not reported
The University of Northampton119/16430.5%53521520118=/16428.4%530200Not reported
The University of Oxford5/16476.9%2,2604,5053,01520=/16461.3%1,610300Not reported
The University of Portsmouth120=/16430.1%1,1605000115/16429.6%1,155485Not reported
The University of Reading88/16443.8%9557450104/16432.8%880430Not reported
The University of Salford100/16438.9%88012044090/16438.3%870100Not reported
The University of Sheffield66/16450.7%2,1051,16599594/16435.7%1,740180Not reported
The University of Southampton34/16460.7%1,8751,1601,73545/16452.2%1,645315Not reported
The University of St Andrews24=/16463.6%70046576029/16458.1%645150Not reported
The University of Stirling110/16433.2%6103050124/16426.6%580210Not reported
The University of Strathclyde17/16466.2%1,0055751,40024/16460.5%85085Not reported
The University of Sunderland53/16453.9%49029028540/16453.8%485280Not reported
The University of Surrey78/16447.2%93549035085/16441.0%865255Not reported
The University of Sussex68/16450.3%1,18068551077=/16442.1%1,140340Not reported
The University of the West of Scotland132/16425.4%51545130131/16422.3%50520Not reported
The University of Wales (central functions)156/1647.0%4050-/164   -
The University of Warwick9/16470.0%1,4601,3952,02011/16466.6%1,345670Not reported
The University of West London31/16461.9%365595517/16462.2%365595Not reported
The University of Westminster92/16442.1%1,09567512077=/16442.1%1,050645Not reported
The University of Winchester83/16445.7%395335062/16445.3%375310Not reported
The University of Wolverhampton118/16431.6%80535335109/16431.0%79025Not reported
The University of York43/16455.7%1,2505451,03086/16440.9%1,060115Not reported
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance149/16412.7%325450145/16412.3%320450
University College Birmingham127/16427.3%2901595120/16427.8%2851595
University College London113/16432.7%7,0703453,08558/16446.4%3,695125Not reported
University for the Creative Arts28/16463.1%3602059014/16463.5%35020590
University of Abertay Dundee142/16417.6%185355141/16414.3%18030Not reported
University of Bedfordshire50=/16454.1%5009049538/16454.2%49085Not reported
University of Chester6/16473.6%4152159506/16473.2%410200Not reported
University of Cumbria124/16428.6%3701500116/16428.7%360145Not reported
University of Derby106/16434.8%1,2357558598/16434.4%1,23060Not reported
University of Durham55/16453.6%1,16054579572/16443.1%1,075130Not reported
University of Gloucestershire56/16453.1%41024521591/16437.9%385235Not reported
University of Hertfordshire133/16425.2%1,580145390159/1642.9%1,51545Not reported
University of London (Institutes and activities)*4/16483.5%45501805/16483.3%3025Not reported
University of Northumbria at Newcastle109/16433.4%1,220160455117/16428.6%1,210100Not reported
University of Nottingham44/16455.5%2,3801,0401,93571/16443.5%2,030140Not reported
University of Plymouth29=/16462.7%9354101,16023/16461.0%885225Not reported
University of South Wales154/1647.2%1,6801255153=/1646.3%1,640105Not reported
University of St Mark and St John12=/16468.4%901018527/16458.5%8510Not reported
University of Suffolk105=/16435.9%190109593=/16436.2%18510Not reported
University of Suffolk105=/16435.9%190109593=/16436.2%18510Not reported
University of the Arts, London12=/16468.4%1,0352,23509/16468.3%1,0352,235Not reported
University of the Highlands and Islands126/16427.7%3555100=/16433.3%100Not reported
University of the West of England, Bristol80/16446.2%1,23541065066/16444.6%1,185305Not reported
University of Ulster79/16446.8%82044028575/16442.5%805310Not reported
University of Wales Trinity Saint David141/16420.2%6559075136/16418.7%63070Not reported
University of Worcester94/16441.7%460330082/16441.7%440315Not reported
York St John University128/16427.0%31015100122/16427.1%31015100

 

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