The University of South Wales is to shed 90 jobs and cut courses and research, it confirmed today. The news came on the same day that Bangor University announced 200 job losses and just weeks after Cardiff University revealed plans to shed 400 academic posts and shut some academic schools.

USW said it will confirm which courses will close after speaking to staff, but confirmed it will be "withdrawing from some research topics to allow us to more closely align our research activity to four main areas which include crime, security and justice; health and wellbeing; sustainable environment; and creative innovation". Courses won't close completely until all current students finish their studies, but there will not be new intakes.

Universities around Wales have a combined expected deficit of around £70m and yesterday the Welsh Government announced £19m more funding for them to help address short term issues. Institutions say they are under pressure from falling applications, flat lined domestic fees and fewer higher paying international students, as well as inflation and National Insurance payments for staff. You can read more about the crisis at Welsh universities here

A University of South Wales spokesperson said: “The University of South Wales (USW) is not exempt from the financial challenges facing the wider higher education sector. To ensure our future resilience, we are currently working through a programme of transformation which will enable us to continue delivering for our communities.

“We have launched a consultation with our colleagues and trade unions on the workforce implications of a review of our academic provision. This work has reviewed the range of courses we offer and our areas of research.

"As a result, we have made the difficult decision that a small number of our courses will close after all current students have completed their studies. This includes some courses where recruitment has already been suspended. In addition, we will also be withdrawing from some research topics to allow us to more closely align our research activity to four main area which include crime, security and justice; health and wellbeing; sustainable environment; and creative innovation.

“We will be looking to reduce the workforce which helps to support teaching, learning and research activity in select areas. The proposals outline a reduction of approximately 90 roles from across the institution, including the simplification and reduction of our faculty management structures. We anticipate that most of these roles will leave at the end of this academic year, but some will exit on a phased basis over the next few years to ensure all our current students can complete their programme of study.

“We will look to limit compulsory redundancies through our normal processes and will be offering targeted voluntary redundancy for colleagues within affected groups. Our focus will always be on providing our students with the very best experience at USW and making a positive impact through our research excellence. We will ensure that our students, colleagues and partners are fully supported throughout this challenging process.”

The most recently published HESA statistics show that USW has approximately 26,000 students and 3,000 staff. It shed 100 staff through a voluntary exit scheme in 2024.

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