Students at the University of East Anglia have been assured that staff leaving due to a £45m financial hole will not affect their courses.

Staff leaving after applying for voluntary severance is expected to save £6m but students have raised concerns their courses will be negatively affected if severances cause lecturer shortages.

It comes after the UEA's former vice-chancellor, David Richardson, stood down in February following a letter from staff saying the financial situation at the university was "out of control".

In a letter sent to all students on Thursday from acting vice-chancellor Christine Bovis-Cnossen, the education provider attempted to reassure students their courses will continue and be completed as normal despite staff departures.

Norwich Evening News:

READ MORE: UEA students reassured about staff cuts and strikes

It read: "We’re aware this is causing concerns for some students, but we can reassure you that if you are currently on a course, it will continue to completion and provide the opportunity for you to complete and achieve the award towards which you’re working.

"You’ll continue to receive academic advice from a dedicated adviser or research supervisory team and will have access to a range of modules and enhancement opportunities."

The UEA needs to make £30m in savings and may need to make another £15m over the next three years, reducing its current budget by 13%.

Compulsory redundancies were announced in January after a £13.9m loss had been revealed, with student recruitment and the impacts of the Covid pandemic cited as major issues.

Norwich Evening News: Student accommodation at the UEAStudent accommodation at the UEA (Image: Newsquest)

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More than 3,700 staff work at the UEA and employee costs amount to around 60% of its total expenditure. 

Plans to further reduce staff numbers as part of cost-cutting proposals will be voted on in two UEA Council meetings next month.

A UEA spokeswoman confirmed said the majority of those leaving voluntarily were expected to go at the end of August 2023.

Prof Bovis-Cnossen said: “We are working hard to secure our future financial sustainability."