University Budget Cuts
In January 2025 Durham University announces tens of millions of pounds in budget cuts. The Vice-Chancellor says that these cuts are unavoidable and are necessary because of government policy which has increased costs and reduced international student fee income. All universities face these conditions. Durham is in a better financial position than most others, but ‘better’ does not mean ‘good’.
Cuts will impact students. Some of those impacts will be in overt cuts to services or activities and some will be from the impact of cuts themselves on staff - industrial action, lower morale and staff stretched thin. But these impacts can be managed and mitigated, and we believe there are also areas of inefficiency or low value where cuts can be prioritised. As Student Officers, we believe there is a consensus on student priorities: excellent teaching, effective student support, preservation of the collegiate model, and breaking down barriers to access and participation at Durham. You can read our full statement on the cuts here.
Below we'll be keeping track of the impact on students of cuts, what our response is and how it's progressing. You can also read about our response to Industrial Action or about what to do if Industrial Action impacts your studies.
| University Budget Cuts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Programme/Resource | Impacted Group | SU Response | Progress |
| Library opening hours reduced | All students | Officers working with the University to find alternative spaces. | College Libraries open to all students. Decision pending on the Waterside building being open for all students. Read our response here. WAITING. |
| PHD Vivas moved to all online/hybrid | PGR students | Education Officer met with Associate PVC Research and TF to discuss keeping Vivas in-person | Decision reversed. Students can request an in-person Viva if they wish. DONE. |
| Breakfast Clubs cut | Low-income students | Officers raised issue with the Vice-Chancellor | Vice-Chancellor looking into it, possibility of being through SU. WAITING. |
| Change to education expenses policy meant some students would unexpectedly be hundreds of pounds out of pocket for attending compulsory placements | Placement students | Course rep raised the issues to the Education Officer, who met with the department and asked if an Equality Impact Assessment had been done on the change, or if students had been consulted. Neither had happened. | The decision has been reversed, and students reimbursed for costs incurred, while consultation on a new policy will be undertaken with course reps and students. GOOD PROGRESS. |
