Queen's University Belfast has informed staff that it must find approximately £10 million in savings this year due to financial pressures. The university recorded a deficit of about £12.5 million in the last financial year, according to a message from Vice-Chancellor Prof Sir Ian Greer.

The university faces a significant cut in the grant it receives from the Northern Ireland Executive for 2025/26. Student fee income has also dropped, with revenue from international student fees falling from over £60 million in 2024 to around £55 million in 2025. Student recruitment income is expected to be about £7 million below target in the current year.

Greer said the university still hopes to deliver agreed pay deals to staff, but the position will be kept under review given the Department for the Economy's stance. Staff car-parking charges are increasing, and fees for childcare and membership of the Physical Education Centre are under review and may rise.

A cap on student numbers meant Queen's turned away about 500 students who had the grades to attend. The Department for the Economy sets the number of local students each university can admit. Plans for a new heritage and visitor centre in the Quad are going ahead as part of a commercial growth strategy.

Ulster University separately announced up to 450 job cuts. The University Management Board has agreed to identify £10 million in savings, and further difficult choices may follow depending on the final public funding position.