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University of York
York

University of york closing?

I might be over thinking things. but I've seen a lot of rumours and talk of the university of York facing financial issues and potentially closing. they have already stated that they will be firing 300-700 staff. which I think could have a huge impact on students.

I have York as my firm for this year to study mathematics undergrad. now I'm really worried I've made the wrong decision.

am I tweaking and overreacting or what someone pls tell me lol. I don't know whether to start looking at clearing
Original post by ReeceV123
I might be over thinking things. but I've seen a lot of rumours and talk of the university of York facing financial issues and potentially closing. they have already stated that they will be firing 300-700 staff. which I think could have a huge impact on students.
I have York as my firm for this year to study mathematics undergrad. now I'm really worried I've made the wrong decision.
am I tweaking and overreacting or what someone pls tell me lol. I don't know whether to start looking at clearing

Hi there,

Congratulations on your offer to study at York, we look forward to welcoming you on campus in September!

Universities across the UK are facing financial challenges, and York is not exempt from these. However, the University has acted quickly to address these challenges and put in place actions to ensure the best parts of the student experience are protected, and the gold standard teaching is maintained. The Vice-Chancellor has been engaging with existing students throughout, and you can read more information here.

I hope this helps to ease your concerns - Hannah 🙂
University of York
York
Original post by University of York
Hi there,
Congratulations on your offer to study at York, we look forward to welcoming you on campus in September!
Universities across the UK are facing financial challenges, and York is not exempt from these. However, the University has acted quickly to address these challenges and put in place actions to ensure the best parts of the student experience are protected, and the gold standard teaching is maintained. The Vice-Chancellor has been engaging with existing students throughout, and you can read more information here.
I hope this helps to ease your concerns - Hannah 🙂

I don’t have concerns about closure, but I do about this from the chancellors section. “This has meant that we have regretfully begun formal consultation with the campus Trade Unions on a potential redundancy situation from September 2024.”

How do we know that when we turn up in September, our courses will not be significantly reduced in staff or teaching experience?
Reply 3
Original post by Anonymous
I don’t have concerns about closure, but I do about this from the chancellors section. “This has meant that we have regretfully begun formal consultation with the campus Trade Unions on a potential redundancy situation from September 2024.”
How do we know that when we turn up in September, our courses will not be significantly reduced in staff or teaching experience?

yeah 😕 its kind of worrying
They almost certainly won't be closing. You would have heard from more official sources if that was even potentially on the cards. Even SOAS didn't close through its financial issues and rationalisation process a few years ago.

Trade union disputes and layoffs do not necessarily signal the uni is closing but do signal a lot of the longer term issues prevalent across the HE sector at all universities.
I haven't dug into their finances but York are certainly not the only uni either restructuring or consulting for redundancies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpd9mgk028lo

BBC
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents more than 140 institutions, told the Today programme on Monday that the "majority of the sector is in trouble".

She said 70 universities were now engaging in cost-saving exercises, adding that she would be "quite surprised" if nearly all universities were not doing the same by the end of the year.

...

Across England, universities are restricting their finances with some seeking to cut their staff by as much as 10%, as well as closing or merging courses.

Staff at universities like Huddersfield, and Lincoln and the University of Central Lancashire are facing job losses, while Coventry University has said it wants to make nearly £100m worth of cuts over the next two years.

The University of Kent has confirmed it is cutting six courses to manage financial challenges.

And staff at Goldsmiths in London have been engaged in a marking boycott, external over plans to cut jobs there too.

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