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Northern Ireland’s universities are set to face a significant decrease of £21 million in government funding allocated by Stormont for student teaching. Ian Snowden, the chief official at the Department for the Economy (DfE), revealed that this would equate to a 6% reduction from the initial funding provided for the academic year 2024/25. These cuts are emerging amid the Northern Ireland Executive’s ongoing inability to finalize a budget, with seven months already elapsed in the financial year without one in place.
Both Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Ulster University (UU) are projected to experience financial deficits by 2025/26 as a result of the current funding uncertainty. In the absence of an approved budget for that period, departments within Stormont have been functioning under contingency protocols, which restrict spending to a maximum of 95% of the previous year’s allocation. The Department for the Economy holds responsibility for overseeing higher and further education funding, which primarily comprises student fees alongside a “teaching grant” it distributes.
Phillip Brett, chair of Stormont’s economy committee and a representative of the Democratic Unionist Party, emphasized the complications that could arise if university funding is further reduced. He warned that universities might not receive payments for up to three months for students already enrolled, despite having admitted these students in expectation of departmental funding. Brett noted, “One of the contingencies from the department is now that come January, February, March you might say ‘actually we’re not going to pay you for these three months of the students that you’ve taken on’?” Confirming this possibility, Snowden stated that universities will only learn the full extent of their funding after the executive agrees on a budget. “At this point we still don’t know how much money we have to spend,” he added.
Reflecting on the impact of these anticipated cuts, Amy Smith, president of the National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI), expressed disappointment and concern. She highlighted how cuts to teaching grants would directly affect students’ access to education and the quality of their university experience, while tuition fees remain unchanged. Smith stated, “Students and staff must not be left to shoulder the cost of underfunding. We stand together in calling for the investment needed to protect jobs, access to education, and the quality of teaching.”
In response, Queen’s University Belfast acknowledged the financial challenges it faces, describing the current higher education funding model and budgetary uncertainties as unsustainable. A university spokesperson affirmed, “We continue to work constructively with the Department for the Economy and government partners to secure a long-term solution that will benefit students and the wider economy.” Queen’s is closely monitoring the financial situation to manage resources responsibly and safeguard its long-term viability.
Ulster University confirmed it was already implementing a significant savings program amid what it described as a serious and worsening funding outlook. The university’s spokesperson noted, “Given the deteriorating funding situation from the department, which we regard as very serious, we will continue to enact appropriate caution in relation to our finances.” They also revealed that 735 staff members had applied for voluntary redundancy as part of these efforts
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