Russell Group unis where strikes are likeliest in the 2025/2026 academic year

Sorry, everyone. The 2025/2026 academic year is likely to be a big one for strikes at UK universities – even at Russell Group unis.

The University College Union (UCU) opened a UK-wide ballot opened on 20th October. If union members vote to strike, then protests could go ahead at 137 unis across the UK at the start of 2026. Lecturers and support staff are stressed about the huge job cuts planned at UK unis, and what they argue is a “real terms pay cut”.

In addition to this, there are plenty of Russell Group unis where other strikes are already planned, or seem like a pretty strong possibility. So, here are the Russell Group unis where strikes are most likely to happen in the 2025/2026 academic year.

University of Birmingham

Members of the union for support staff – that includes administrators, caterers, cleaners, library staff and  maintenance workers – went on strike over the summer, and then again at the end of September. They protested over their pay and working conditions. They haven’t confirmed any more plans for strikes yet.

Durham University

Staff protested over 200 proposed job losses in June. They took part in action short of strike until 30th September 2025. The union hasn’t indicated any plans for more industrial action in the new academic year, but management haven’t changed their plans for cuts, either.

University of Edinburgh

Staff at Edinburgh have already been on strike during the 2025/2026 academic year. They planned protests around the uni’s Welcome Week from 8th to 12th September.

Most Read

This gay OnlyFans model is dethroning Bonnie Blue with a stunt of his own, and it’s extreme

This Scottish girl faked a pregnancy for nine months — and she’s finally spoken out

So much of the internet has just stopped working – here’s what’s behind the mass outage

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by UCU Edinburgh (@edinburghucu)

Management have yet to scale back their plans for £140 million of cuts – including a possible 1,800 jobs. Staff are still participating in action short of strike – essentially when they only do the bare minimum work required in their contracts.

The vice-chancellor said back in September: “We continue to engage regularly with the joint trade unions, staff and our students, and remain firmly committed to ongoing dialogue as we take the necessary steps to safeguard the future of our university.”

Imperial College London

Members of Imperial’s Joint Trade Unions (JTU) are striking over a pay dispute. Protests are scheduled for ten days throughout October and November.

The uni’s website advises students: “While we entirely respect the right of our trade unions and their members to undertake industrial action, our immediate priority is to minimise the impact on your studies, and we are making every effort to do so.”

University of Nottingham

Notts students are already dealing with strikes at the moment. Staff are striking on particular days between 22nd September and 24th October.

Strike action is ON!!!

Next week will be the first of 4 weeks of striking from our members as we continue to say NO to the compulsory redundancies forced on us by the university for their poor financial choices.#StopTheCuts #SaveHE pic.twitter.com/DilVh7hNaO

— University of Nottingham UCU branch (@UoNUCU) September 15, 2025

The Nottingham branch of the UCU is unimpressed the uni hasn’t ruled out compulsory redundancies for 2025 and 2026. They’re threatened more strikes in November if management won’t reach a resolution with them.

A spokesperson for the University of Nottingham said: “While we respect our employees’ right to take industrial action, we are disappointed that UCU moved ahead with strike action. We are committed to minimising any disruption to our students that may occur.”

University of Sheffield

Union members at both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University have voted in favour of strike action. Uni of Sheffield staff are concerned about job losses. Management have launched a new voluntary redundancy scheme for staff in 10 academic departments.

The union hasn’t publicly announced any fixed plans for strikes yet.

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield told The Sheffield Tab: “We stand by our commitment to make no compulsory redundancies this calendar year and will continue to work with UCU and other trade unions to avoid them wherever possible in the future as the University adapts to the pressures facing the higher education sector.”

For more like this, follow The Tab on Instagram.

Featured image by Arran Bee.