Hundreds of university courses in fields such as teaching, languages, archaeology, and media are being eliminated across Australian universities. This significant reduction comes as the tertiary sector grapples with what it describes as “confused” government policies.
In the past year, nearly half of Australia’s universities have undergone restructuring, resulting in the merging or disbanding of more than 50 schools of study. The cuts have particularly impacted the humanities, drastically reducing course options for students.
Universities Under Pressure
The University of Wollongong is among those making substantial cuts, discontinuing disciplines including cultural studies, languages, archaeology, and linguistics. Similarly, the University of Tasmania plans to merge its school of humanities and social sciences, consolidate politics and international relations into a single major, and cease offering German courses. Meanwhile, Southern Cross University is ending undergraduate degrees in contemporary music, art, design, and digital media.
Australian National University (ANU) has announced it will not pursue further involuntary redundancies as part of its “Renew ANU” process. However, it has proposed merging or shutting down several schools, including music, sociology, crime and social justice, political science, international relations, and public policy. The ANU will also close the Australian National Dictionary Centre, the Humanities Research Centre, the Centre for European Studies, and the ANU School of Music.
Financial Challenges and Workforce Reductions
According to ANU’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Genevieve Bell, the university faces an “incredibly challenging period,” emphasizing that “living outside our means is not a responsible financial position.” A Guardian analysis predicts that by 2027, approximately 2,400 jobs will be lost across 15 institutions, equating to about 1.6% of the workforce. As of 2024, around 143,000 people were employed in the sector, according to the Department of Education.
About 847 staff have already been made redundant nationwide, including 218 at ANU and 259 at the University of Southern Queensland.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is considering cuts of up to 400 positions, representing a tenth of its workforce. Recently, UTS paused student enrollments for nearly a fifth of its courses as it seeks $100 million in cost reductions.
Responses and Reactions
Macquarie University has also unveiled a draft proposal indicating cuts to 42 full positions in the faculty of arts and 33 in science and engineering, alongside nearly 40 mergers and curriculum reductions. A spokesperson for Macquarie stated that these measures respond to “long-term challenges shaping higher education.”
Luke Sheehy, CEO of Universities Australia, noted that universities are in a difficult financial position due to a decade of “successive and consistent” policy and funding changes, with research investment at a record low. “Chronic underfunding and confused policy settings are holding universities back,” he said, calling for increased research funding and a fairer student funding system.
Charles Sturt University (CSU) has announced it will cut its operating budget by $35 million by 2027. Prof. Renée Leon, CSU’s vice-chancellor, described the decision as distressing but unsurprising, citing restrictive government policies and the loss of international students.
Impact on Students and Staff
Dr. Alison Barnes, president of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), warned that the cuts would have a “devastating impact,” following 4,524 redundancies in 2020 and 2021. “It’s a shortsighted strategy,” Barnes said, criticizing the lack of consideration for the damage to institutions and the student experience.
“Vice-chancellors [are] taking home an average of $1 million a year,” Barnes said, highlighting poor workforce planning and broken governance structures.
Education Minister Jason Clare announced that the federal government would strengthen the powers of the tertiary sector’s regulator. He also mentioned that an expert council on university governance would address executive remuneration.
Future Prospects and Policy Changes
Other university leaders have called for an overhaul of existing policy settings, including the Morrison-era jobs-ready graduate (JRG) program, which increased the cost of humanities degrees. Bill Shorten, vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra, emphasized the need to scrap the JRG program and improve university funding.
“When humanities students of 2025 are paying double that paid by a student who graduated in 2019, and [they are] facing the additional challenges of cost-of-living and placement poverty … it is hardly a draw card,” Shorten said.
Western Sydney University also supports scrapping the JRG package, expecting to cut 300 jobs and face an $80 million deficit next year. “The cost of degrees is limiting access and participation, disproportionately affecting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds,” a spokesperson said.
The announcement comes as the Australian university sector faces a critical juncture, with institutions balancing financial sustainability against the need to provide diverse and comprehensive educational offerings. As universities continue to navigate these challenges, the impact on students, staff, and the broader educational landscape remains significant.
