The University of Edinburgh senate to demand spending cuts transparency

The University of Edinburgh’s senate calls for transparency over recent cuts. 

The senate will meet on November 11th to discuss spending cuts across the university.

The cuts include axing around 90 programmes, causing outrage among students and staff.

The upcoming meeting will put forward a motion for principal Peter Mathieson to offer more transparency surrounding the cuts. 

The motion argues for more information about the decision-making process of the cuts, saying:

“Senate requests a report, to be presented at the next available meeting, listing all programme closures approved since 1 August 2025, and recording for each: the date of consideration by the relevant Board(s) of Studies; the approving College committee; any further body involved in the decision; evidence of the student involvement required by PCAM paragraph 2.15; and, for joint, interdisciplinary and collaborative programmes, evidence of engagement with partner Boards of Studies and external partners.”

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They continue: “The approval and closure of credit-bearing courses and programmes is a matter of regulating and superintending the teaching of the University, and therefore falls within Senate’s statutory remit.”

Recently, members of the senate expressed that their demands have not been heard by senior management, with one member saying: “We’ve reached a point where there is now significant mistrust in the senior management of the university, and deep frustration with what appears to be a strategy to avoid academic scrutiny of decisions that have a significant impact on our educational offering as a university which states a commitment to societal relevance, diversity, inclusivity and accessibility.”

Earlier this month, senators accused The University of Edinburgh management of not allowing the Senate to exercise its power efficiently. 

Ultimately, the Senate argues a lack of involvement in crucial decision-making at the university. This clashes with the Higher Education Governance Act, which lays out the framework for inclusion and representation of all staff and students at universities across Scotland. 

A university spokesperson denied these claims and argued that the senate’s published reports on the topic contain a number of unspecified “inaccuracies”. 

The meeting on Wednesday will give the Senate a valuable chance to express their core concerns and represent the voices of many students and staff.