Scottish universities face widespread funding cuts

Nine universities in Scotland face real-terms funding cuts of 2 per cent or more to teaching, research and innovation grants, according to an analysis by the vice-chancellors’ group Universities Scotland.

Scottish universities will need to tighten their purse strings, according to the Universities Scotland analysis. It reveals that all but two institutions face real-terms funding cuts to grants for teaching, research and innovation in the 2019-20 academic year. This is according to indicative figures released by the Scottish Funding Council on 28 February.

“Today’s funding allocations throw a stark light on the challenging budget outcome for universities,” said Andrea Nolan, convener of Universities Scotland and principal of Edinburgh Napier University, in a statement. “Some institutions are likely to struggle to make ends meet, eroding their capacity to deliver fully for Scotland’s success,” she said.