Cardiff University to Raise Grades Amid Deficit and Cuts Row

Cardiff University might be harder to get into next year. They plan to accept fewer students, but with higher grades. This comes as the university faces a large £65 million deficit, more than double last year’s deficit.

The university wants to cut 400 academic jobs, and more job losses are likely. However, they will create new roles too, including learning designers, academic developers, and instructional technologists. These new staff will support the current academics, and the university wants fewer, better undergraduate students. They also plan to limit clearing acceptances.

The confidential document details the planned changes. It also warns about further job losses, affecting non-academic staff. The university also plans to save money on its property.

Cardiff University is Wales’ only Russell Group university. They predicted a £65 million deficit this year, more than twice last year’s amount. It’s also nearly all Welsh universities’ deficits combined.

The document details the plans and reasons for cuts. These cuts have caused widespread criticism, and the university aims for a smaller, more elite institution. The document doesn’t mention international student grades, although they often help close the funding gap. This gap exists due to fixed domestic tuition fees.

The document outlines changes to degree programs. The goal is higher quality and smaller size. They want Cardiff to stay competitive, important in both home and overseas markets.

Tuition fees don’t cover course costs, universities warned. They rely on international student income, but international student numbers have dropped.

The university requires higher grades starting in 2025-26. They want to maintain entry standards. In the past, they lowered requirements to get more students. Now, Cardiff will hold its standards, and won’t lower them as much as before.

Taking more students costs more money overall. Holding entry standards helps the university’s reputation. Cardiff will be like other Russell Group schools, and will rely less on clearing. This benefits students and staff; smaller cohorts will improve the experience. Reducing student numbers enables greater cost savings.

The university struggles against higher-ranked UK schools. They have also dropped in international rankings. More home undergraduates came through clearing recently, which lowered the required grades in some subjects. It created larger, more diverse classes, posing challenges for student experience and teaching.

The university lists 400 academic roles at risk. They are considering closing some departments and schools, including nursing, languages, music, and history. These proposals go through a 90-day review. Rising costs and fewer international applications drove these changes. Currently, the university carries a £28 million deficit.

The deficit grew from £31.2 million to £65 million due to inflation and fewer international students. Also, new insurance payments added to the problem; tuition fee increases only cover half the insurance cost. Other Welsh and UK universities are having similar struggles. Only two Welsh universities avoided deficits in the last year. University staff threaten to strike over management.

Even with the planned cuts, problems remain. The university will also cut property costs. Closing and merging schools impacts professional service staff. Students will see changes to degree programs, which will have simpler paths and less module choice. They will review teaching and improve scheduling. New roles will support academics in their work.