University finances: your questions answered

Why does the University need to make cost savings?

The University of Edinburgh, like all higher education institutions in the UK, is currently facing significant financial pressures. To remain financially sustainable, it is important that we take proactive steps now to reduce our expenditure in the long-term.

The University is currently not in a deficit position, but our costs are rising more than our income. If we had not already taken action to reduce our costs, we would likely now be in financial deficit.  

By continuing to manage our expenditure over the next few years, we aim to continue to deliver world-class education and research for generations to come.

How do I find out more about the University’s finances?  

You can learn more about the University’s finances by looking at our published Annual Report and Accounts: 

Annual Report and Accounts

In our most recent Annual Report and Accounts (2023/24), our income was £1,434 million against expenditure of £1,409 million (excluding pension adjustments). The next Annual Report and Accounts (for 2024/25) will be published in early 2026.

Without intervention, we forecast to be in a deficit position for the 2025/26 financial year. This is where our expenditure exceeds our income. Our cost-saving plans aim to avoid this outcome and return the University to a financially sustainable position. These actions will help us generate a surplus at a level which enables investment in our strategic priorities, including enhancing our student experience, and maintaining our global impact.  

What areas will the University’s cost-saving plans focus on?

We have identified areas where we can change how we operate, achieving cost savings while ensuring we protect the University’s academic mission and maintain our commitment to excellence.

We are considering activities in five key areas, which focus on:

• Learning and teaching
• Research and innovation
• Staff
• Our physical and digital estate
• Other operating expenditure

Our focus will be on reducing total expenditure across the University.  

What is being done in learning and teaching?

We want to make improvements to your education and broader student experience through changing how we deliver our learning and teaching. Our areas of focus have been informed by what you have told us needs to change.  

Our decisions have also been informed by our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2030 which has three core purposes:

• To stimulate developments in our educational offer, ensuring it remains fit to equip our students for the futures they will be entering
• To promote and support inspiring teaching
• To engage and empower our students to become lifelong learners and make a meaningful impact in the world 

Learning and Teaching Strategy 2030

Our proposed work focuses on shaping a future-ready curriculum, as well as improving our student support processes.  

Shaping a future-ready curriculum

We are transforming how and what we teach to prepare students for a rapidly changing world, with a focus on innovation, personal growth and societal impact.  

Our curriculum development activity is focused on the implementation of the Skills for Success Framework across the University, with Challenge Courses and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for teaching introduced in some areas, with further rollout in 2026/27.  

What is the Skills for Success Framework?

Assessment and Feedback  

As part of the implementation of the strategy, we will also continue to prioritise Assessment and Feedback, including improving feedback turnaround times, providing clear marking criteria and ensuring that our digital systems support further improvements in our approach to assessment and feedback.

Portfolio Review  

Our Portfolio Review framework ensures we continue to offer a high-quality, future-focused and financially sustainable set of taught programmes and courses. The work is led by Colleges and Schools and involves regular reviewing of their teaching provision aligned to the framework.

Informed by the review, we have taken the decision to close some programmes where we have evidence of limited year-on-year interest from applicants, or where programmes or courses are duplicated across the University.

We are further refining our teaching support processes through the following projects:

Timetabling and Course Selection  

This project aims to:

• give students and staff a stable, detailed, accurate timetable for the whole academic year ahead of programme start dates.
• make sure students are offered an appropriate suite of courses, and that the parameters of their choice are transparent and well explained. 

Boards of Examiners  

This project aims to improve Board of Examiners processes to reduce workload pressure on staff and provide accurate and consistent outcomes for students, as early as we can.

Tuition Fee improvements

This project aims to implement a more effective approach to collecting tuition fees making it easier and clearer for our students.

We are additionally looking at the future provision of a student records system.

How is this work overseen?  

A Learning and Teaching Workstream Board is responsible for overseeing this work. The EUSA President and EUSA VP Education are members of this Board.  

We also have student input to every project ensuring that changes to our ways of working address the needs of our students and directly improve our student experience. 

Can you ensure that students will not be negatively affected by these changes?

Our students and your experiences at the University are, and will, continue to be our priority. We have made improvements in the last few years but we have more we want to do in partnership with our students.  

The changes we are making in the areas of learning and teaching (as outlined in the earlier question) will always aim to improve student experience as part of the planned outcomes.  

As we transition to an improved approach, we will ensure that we minimise any short-term impacts as much as possible. We will also continue to communicate regularly with students and staff as we progress projects.  

I’m feeling worried about these changes. Where can I seek support?

We do not take lightly that periods of change, including as new structures and processes are implemented, can be unsettling for students and staff. Please do raise any concerns with us through your School Student Staff Liaison Committees and EUSA representatives so we can address those as needed.

We also have a broad range of wellbeing, academic and careers support available to you, including our Student Wellbeing Service and support from your Student Adviser or Supervisor. 

How we support you

Will I be able to take the courses I want to take?

We regularly review and refresh our degree programmes and courses, sometimes closing programmes to new students or changing our course offering to current students.

We recently took the decision to close some programmes and courses, where we had evidence of limited year-on-year interest from applicants, or in areas where we were offering duplicative programmes or courses across the University.  

When we close a programme or course, we always seek to minimise any impact on applicants and students and aim to offer alternative options.

How are you supporting staff wellbeing during this time?

We know how much you value the staff who teach and support you. We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff, and we know this is more important than ever during times of change.  

When staff choose to leave the University voluntarily, managers are asked to consider and manage the impact of this on other colleagues’ workloads.

Staff have access to a range of support, from our Employee Assistance Programme to counselling, self-help tools and Occupational Health support, through our dedicated Staff Health and Wellbeing Hub.

Will you be consulting students to inform decision-making?

We continue to work closely with the Students’ Association so that our plans for learning, teaching and student experience are informed by our students’ views.

Our cost savings projects, including those designed to improve our student experience also include student input in order to help shape our future provision.  

We want to hear from you. Please take the opportunity to share your thoughts with us when you can, by completing surveys, joining the Student Panel or sharing feedback with your School. 

Student voice