UNISON has warned that up to 300 job cuts at the University of Sussex will pile work on remaining staff, after around 500 employees took voluntary redundancy over the past year.

The university began a 45-day consultation over the potential redundancies affecting its academic departments and professional services today. 

They include jobs in admissions, student support and IT services. Seventeen jobs are also at risk at the university’s students’ union and a dozen at leading research organisation and global charity the Institute of Development Studies.

Unison South East regional secretary Jo Galloway said: “It’s unacceptable to ask remaining employees to carry even heavier workloads after hundreds of colleagues have gone.

“Universities cannot cut their way to stability while expecting staff and students to pay the price.”

The university, which plans to reduce annual spending by £28 million following a reported loss of 4,000 students, was contacted for comment.