Recruitment and promotion paused as Aberdeen University seeks savings
The university says its costs are increasing by almost £5m next year
Last updated 17th Apr 2025
Recruitment is being frozen and promotions paused at Aberdeen University, as it deals with a £4.7 million increase in costs.
A university spokesperson said a "very small" number of vacant posts have been cut due to costs increasing in the 2025/2026 financial year.
National Insurance increase among factors
The university said it has been hit by higher national insurance contributions, a pay award from the previous year, inflation and the payment of increments.
A notice sent to staff said "good progress" had been made to stabilise and improving the financial position through managing operating costs, setting savings targets and pausing recruitment on some roles throughout the institution.
It said it is confident it will reach the financial target set by the university court - a deficit of £6.5 million in the current financial year.
However, with overall running costs estimated to increase by £4.7 million this year, the university said that in addition to making a small number of job cuts, it would revisit the voluntary redundancy and enhanced retirement schemes that were declined last year.
It said colleagues would be given a further update by the end of April.
A university spokesperson said: "We've made good progress on stabilising and improving our financial position by managing our costs, setting tough savings targets and pausing recruitment on many roles.
"We now need to make further savings as costs for 2025/26 are set to climb by at least £4.7m due to higher National Insurance contributions, last year's pay award, the payment of increments and inflationary pressures across a wide range of areas.
Action taken "regrettable but necessary"
"We are taking early action to bring costs down and this includes stopping almost all staff recruitment, revisiting Voluntary Severance and Enhanced Retirement for previously declined applications and pausing the academic promotion exercise.
"The steps are regrettable but necessary to help us offset some of our rising costs and continue to navigate unprecedented times for our sector."
Scottish Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Andrew Bowie, said: “As a former graduate at Aberdeen University, this is devastating news for students, staff and industries across Scotland which rely on their skills and expertise.
“So soon after Robert Gordon University was forced into making redundancies, this announcement is a further hammer blow to the city and the wider North East region.
Prospect of reducing staff numbers "disastrous"
“With demand for university places continuing to rise, the prospect of reducing staff is disastrous for the future of our young people, our workforce and employers.
“Labour’s National Insurance hikes and the failure of the SNP to properly fund our universities is plunging institutions like Aberdeen into an even deeper crisis.
“Both of Scotland’s governments have been asleep at the wheel and must urgently reverse the damage they have done by properly supporting our higher education sector before it’s too late.”
Minister for Higher Education Graeme Dey said: “This will be an anxious time for staff and students at the University and students should be supported through this period and receive timely information about the impact of any disruption on their studies.
“While Aberdeen University is an autonomous institution, we would urge the University and trade unions to engage constructively to resolve disputes.
Any decisions taken should be based on the principles of Fair Work and compulsory redundancies considered only ever be used as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.
“Universities are of course impacted by external shocks, including Brexit, inflationary pressures and the UK Government’s decision to increase National Insurance contributions and retain restrictive migration policies.”