Peter Mathieson’s £40k jet-set lifestyle: Edinburgh boss splurges on business travel amid funding crisis

Edinburgh University’s Vice-Chancellor has spent over £40,000 on travel and hotels in under a year.

Peter Mathieson took business-class flights to destinations such as Hong Kong, New York, and Milan amidst warnings to university staff of “further layoffs”. 

A freedom of information request from The National confirmed the Edinburgh Uni principal spent a ­total of £31,861 on flights in only eight months. The money was spent between October 2023 and June 2024, with more than 90% of the booking fees being spent on business-class tickets.

Between September 2023 and 2024, he spent a further £11,340 on taxi fares, public transport costs and accommodation costs.

His travel expenses include short-haul flights from Edinburgh to London City Airport (£92), Dublin (£129) and Brussels (£240) as well as long-haul trips to Newark (£4,633), Hong Kong (£4,900) and Icheon (£5,155), and trips between foreign destinations like Newark to Washington (£1,771) and Icheon to Milano Malpensa (£3,663).

These expenses come during a funding crisis for the university, for which Mathieson has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies for staff.

Mathieson has previously attracted controversy for using university funds to cover the costs of his multi-million pound Regent Terrace address. He similarly used funds to finance five-star hotels and private chauffeurs. 

Amidst a “financial black hole” for Edinburgh Uni, the principal received a pay rise of “near £20,000”, bringing his annual pay up to £418,000, making him the highest paid vice-chancellor in Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh has claimed to need to reduce costs by £140 million, pausing academic promotions and recruitment until it reaches a “more stable” financial position.

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The cuts have led to the University and College Union balloting members on strike action if the university does not back down from compulsory redundancies.

A UCU spokesperson said: “This is an employer that wastes millions on capital projects, but is now seeking to cut the very staff who deliver the teaching, research and student support that make the university the successful institution that it is.”

Dundee University is taking similar cost-saving measures amidst their own financial crisis, with plans to lose 700 staff: the financial situation is partly attributed to a fall in the number of overseas students.

The former principal of Dundee, Professor Iain Gillespie, has faced criticism over his travel expenses ahead of his resignation with immediate effect. Professor Iain had spent £131,000 on travel over three years, meaning that his yearly average was £43,000, in line with Sir Peter’s.

Similarly, the former principal faced criticism after it was found he charged the university for flights to Hong Kong at the price of £4,723, despite colleagues being able to fly on a cheaper rate of £,1067.

In response to criticisms over Mathieson’s expenses, a University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: “The principal is responsible for the overall operation of the university and as such represents the university at strategically significant meetings and events worldwide.

“International travel is an essential part of the principal’s role, which includes hosting fundraising opportunities, developing and maintaining global partnerships, and supporting our alumni community and network of international offices. All flights and travel are arranged in line with relevant university policies.”