Ulster University plans to cut up to 450 jobs across its campuses to address a £25m financial deficit. The redundancies target all sites, including the Magee campus in Londonderry.

SDLP assembly member Sinéad McLaughlin stated that university projections allocate 108 job losses at Magee, 221 at Belfast, 114 at Coleraine, and seven at Jordanstown.

The university aims to achieve the reductions through voluntary redundancies. A spokesperson noted that employers must notify the government of potential redundancies with location details. The figures provided represent notional allocations based on current staffing at each multi-campus site.

Norman Hagan, chair of the University and College Union branch at Ulster University and based at Magee, described the scale of cuts as deeply concerning. He stated that nobody anticipated losses of this magnitude and questioned how 108 reductions at Derry would avoid impacting the target of expanding from 6,500 to 10,000 students.

Hagan called for a pause in the redundancy process, arguing it offers a short-term solution that risks long-term harm to the institution and reduces capacity in the north west, where growth has been promised.

He added that uncertainty over voluntary applicants already affects staff at all four campuses, and compulsory redundancies will follow if the voluntary scheme falls short.

A university spokesperson emphasized that sustainable higher education funding remains essential for growth. The institution remains committed to viable expansion at Derry-Londonderry but cannot sustain growth without proper funding.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald views the Magee expansion as an Executive priority. Her department noted a 22% rise in student numbers there over the past two years and reaffirmed commitment to the 10,000-student goal.

The Magee campus employs almost 750 staff and enrolled 6,500 students in 2024. A taskforce established that year oversees an action plan to reach the 2032 target.

Independent assembly member Claire Sugden raised concerns over job losses at Coleraine, which employs almost 800 staff, following the Riverside Theatre closure there.