The UK universities which spent the most money on ‘restructuring’ and cutting staff’s jobs

A new report from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has called out UK universities for spending lots of money on “expensive” restructuring at a time when many institutions face significant financial challenges. The report argues that when universities spend money on consultancies and change managers, they are often “adding cost rather than removing it”. Restructuring specialist often add layers of management, and large changes can decrease productivity amongst staff. So, here’s as closer look at which UK universities actually spent the most money on “restructuring costs” last year.

According to the Office for Students (OfS), “fundamental restructuring costs” include “any one-off costs incurred as a result of undertaking a restructuring/reorganisation”. That incorporates any payments to staff who were made redundant in order to restructure the organisation.

The Russell Group university that spent the most money on restructuring this year is Queen’s University Belfast. The uni opened up a voluntary severance scheme in February 2026. Approximately 300 staff agreed to leave, at a cost to the uni of £25,361,000.

Cardiff University isn’t far behind Queen’s University Belfast. The uni’s annual accounts noted: “Exceptional restructuring costs of £24.3 million were incurred in the year in relation to a voluntary severance and redundancy scheme. The scheme is expected to deliver ongoing savings and support financial sustainability.” Cardiff University has also spent over £10 million on consultants over the last two years.

Cardiff University’s main campus

Many other prestigious universities spent millions on restructuring because of voluntary severance schemes. The University of Liverpool paid out £13,131,000 to 320 employees through its Voluntary Leavers’ Scheme. Durham University‘s restructuring costs also relate to a voluntary severance scheme.

This data comes from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and refers to the 2024/2025 academic year.

Here are the 20 UK universities that spent the most on restructuring last year:

20. University of South Wales – £4,550,000

19. Queen Mary University of London – £4,820,000

18. Bangor University – £5,055,000

17. Nottingham Trent University – £5,173,000

16. Canterbury Christ Church University – £5,691,000

15. Middlesex University – £5,822,000

14. University for the Creative Arts – £6,559,000

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13. Sheffield Hallam University – £6,574,000

12. Bournemouth University – £7,723,000

11. Swansea University – £8,422,000

10. University of Hull – £8,650,000

9. University of Stirling – £8,750,000

The University of Exeter

8. University of Exeter – £10,038,000

7. University of Plymouth – £10,242,000

6. University of Essex – £10,833,000

5. Durham University – £11,908,000

4. University of Liverpool – £13,131,000

3. Cardiff University – £24,349,000

2. Queen’s University Belfast – £25,361,000

1. Open University – £35,439,000

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