Cardiff University set to cut numerous courses amid financial cuts

Cardiff University is set to close numerous courses due to financial cuts.

A number of other courses are also expected to be merging.

According to the university, nursing, modern foreign languages, music, ancient history, and religion and theology could be closing.

BBC News also reported that chemistry, earth sciences and physics will potentially be merged to create a School of Natural Sciences, whilst computer science and maths is proposed to come together to become the School of Data Science.

Other subjects proposed to merge include social sciences, geography and planning which could merge to create the School of Human and Social Sciences, and English, communication and philosophy, Welsh and remaining elements of history, archaeology and religion and modern languages will potentially merge together to become the School of Global Humanities.

There is also doubt surrounding what will happen to students currently studying these courses with UCU representative and journalism lecturer, Dr Andy Williams saying: “There is no timetable. What happens to students who are half way through their degrees in schools slated for closure? We don’t know.”

However, a Cardiff University spokesperson told The Cardiff Tab: “It is important to stress that these are proposals. No final decisions have been made. The University will ensure that all students who are enrolled in programmes are able to complete their studies.

“Where programmes are closed as a result of these proposals, teach-out plans will be developed to protect and support students, ensuring that all students continue to receive a high-quality student experience. There will be consultation with students and staff to inform the development of teach-out plans.

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“A Discontinuation of Programmes Oversight Group – chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) will provide oversight on the appropriateness of the teach-out plans, the delivery of these plans, impact on students, and the mitigation of risks. ”

Cardiff’s School of Modern Languages via Google Maps

Staff meetings were held on Tuesday, and they are supposed to continue this week.

This comes as the university is set to be cutting 400 jobs.

Professor Wendy Larner, Cardiff’s vice-chancellor said: “It is no longer an option for us to continue as we are,” adding the university had to make “difficult decisions” because of “declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive”.

She further explained that she understands the “proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety for those potentially impacted”.

Dr Joey Whitfield, a lecturer working in the modern languages department, who is also part of Cardiff UCU said members were “absolutely shell shocked” by the “cruel and unnecessary” cuts.

He added: “I’ve had colleagues in tears. They’ll damage our members, our students, the city, and Wales as a whole,” saying members are “prepared to fight any compulsory redundancies tooth and nail”.

Students have also spoken out about the subject cuts. Rhianna, a final year modern languages student told The Cardiff Tab: “It’s a really sad day for Cardiff University and all language students – as a society we completely take for granted knowing English as a first language and it’s sad that Cardiff, a well renowned Russell Group uni, is taking away the opportunity for students to study another language and diversify their students’ view of the world.

“I feel so sorry for all of the teachers losing their jobs, especially those that have inspired and motivated me to carry on my language journey over the last four years.”

A languages graduate who wished to stay anonymous, also said: “I can’t believe it. I loved studying Spanish at Cardiff and always recommended the course to people. I’m actually so sad.”

The full statement from Professor Larner is as follows: “Cardiff University will launch a formal consultation on proposed changes designed to realise its ambitions and secure the University’s long-term future. The consultation, which runs for 90 days, includes a proposed reduction of 400 (FTE) academic staff and the possibility of School and subject closures and School mergers.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said: “The precarious financial position of many universities, particularly in the context of declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive are well documented.

“We know here at Cardiff University that it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are. Our new strategy, co-created with our community, lays out an ambitious future for our University where it is collaborative, innovative, and delivering value for Cardiff, Wales and the wider world.

“Securing that future, in the context of tightening finances, means we need to take difficult decisions to realise our ambitions to enhance our education and research, and improve the staff and student experience.

“We have worked diligently to create initial proposals for a slightly smaller University, refocused around our core and emerging strengths – a University ready to leverage new academic opportunities, prepare students for an adapting world and meet changing market demands as they arise.

“At the same time as putting forward these proposals to reshape our current activities, we will be working on a new model for flexible lifelong learning, new opportunities in transnational education, and new approaches to learning and teaching.

“Our proposals aim to create a more focused, higher quality research environment for staff and students that is world-leading with cynefin, place and co-creation at its heart.

“We also want to ensure a consistently excellent education experience for students of all backgrounds and experiences. I want to stress that these are proposals and our final plans will be shaped by our community – both internal and external – through formal consultation.

“The scale of the challenge will remain, but the way that we address it will certainly be refined and developed over the next 90 days.

“I know that these proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainly and anxiety for those potentially impacted.

“We have done everything that we can to avoid reaching this position, but ultimately we know that annual rounds of cuts demoralise our staff, affect our students, and limit our ability to retain and grow new partnerships with our community here in the UK and elsewhere. We need to act now to ensure that we are able to deliver on the aspirations of our new strategy and have a viable university for the future.

“These academically-led proposals aim to reverse our deficit trend and create headroom for new revenue-generating activities to be established.”

A related process to reshape the professional and support services to support our academic aspirations has already begun.

Staff briefings were held on Tuesday 28th January and will continue throughout the week. The business cases for each School will be made available through the University’s staff intranet. Current students and other key external stakeholders will be updated on the proposals.

The consultation will run for three months and final plans for approval are expected to be considered by University Council in June 2025.”