The planned job cuts at Cardiff University could have a severe impact on the future of nursing in Wales, a union leader has warned. The university has confirmed it will cut 400 full-time jobs due to financial pressures, with proposals that include course closures and departmental mergers—putting essential subjects like nursing, modern languages, and music at risk.
The Royal College of Nursing Wales has raised alarms, cautioning that these cuts could significantly disrupt the supply of nurses to Welsh health boards at a time when the NHS is already struggling with workforce shortages.
Nursing Education at Risk as NHS Faces Shortages
Helen Whyley, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing Wales, said the potential closure of Cardiff’s nursing course is “deeply worrying.” She emphasized that Cardiff University plays a vital role in training nurses for Welsh health boards, particularly in South Wales.
“It has a school of well over 1,000 students, so that’s a significant number that come out every year,” she said.
“At a time where we have a significant number of nursing vacancies, it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out the students that come through Cardiff University are a very important contribution to that pipeline.”
Hospitals in Wales are currently short of 2,000 nurses, and while recent recruitment efforts have slightly improved the situation, the NHS remains under extreme pressure. If Cardiff University’s nursing program is scaled back or closed, the supply of newly trained nurses could be severely disrupted.
Cardiff University Departments Facing Closures and Mergers
In addition to nursing, other courses at risk of closure include:
• Ancient History and Religion
• Theology
• Music
• Modern Languages
Meanwhile, several departments are set to merge, creating new schools within the university:
• Natural Sciences (merging Chemistry, Earth Sciences, and Physics)
• Data Science (merging Computer Science and Mathematics)
• Human and Social Sciences (merging Social Sciences, Geography, and Planning)
• Global Humanities (merging English, Welsh, Communication, Philosophy, and elements of History, Archaeology, and Religion)
Students and Lecturers Face Uncertainty Over Future
The announcement has left many students and staff in limbo, with concerns over their academic futures and job security.
Second-year student Fflur James, who studies French and Welsh, said the lack of communication from the university has left her and her classmates feeling anxious.
“The uncertainty is the biggest thing and the thing that worries me. I hope that I’ll graduate here at Cardiff University, but of course, that uncertainty is still around us,” she said.
Many Cardiff University lecturers have already received letters stating that their jobs are at risk, with support links provided. However, the university has maintained that compulsory redundancies will only happen if absolutely necessary.
Political and Sector Response: Calls for Government Action
The Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru have called for urgent discussions about the impact of Cardiff University’s job cuts, particularly in relation to the NHS.
Natasha Asghar, the Welsh Conservative education spokeswoman, said the proposed nursing cuts were alarming:
“Our Welsh NHS is on its knees and we are crying out for doctors and nurses, yet this decision will leave us worse off.”
Meanwhile, Universities UK, the sector’s governing body, has highlighted that universities have been dealing with chronic underfunding for years. The organization has called on the UK government to rethink higher education funding, ensuring that universities can sustain long-term growth and support essential sectors like healthcare.
Cardiff University Defends Decision Amid Financial Pressures
Cardiff University Vice-Chancellor Wendy Larner defended the decision, stating that without drastic reforms, the university’s financial position would become “untenable.” She cited factors such as:
• Declining international student applications
• Rising costs, including a £7m increase in national insurance contributions
• A broken funding system affecting most UK universities
Elsewhere in Wales, Swansea University has also announced it will need to make £30 million in cuts by 2026/27, despite over 300 staff members leaving since September 2023.
What’s Next for Cardiff University and Welsh Higher Education?
The Welsh government has expressed disappointment over Cardiff’s proposals, particularly regarding the nursing program. A spokesperson confirmed that efforts were underway to ensure Wales continues training sufficient numbers of nurses to meet NHS demand.
The university’s final decision on job and course cuts will depend on further consultations and financial reviews. However, unless additional funding solutions emerge, Wales may face a significant decline in healthcare professionals, language specialists, and academic expertise—with long-term consequences for education, healthcare, and employment.
As students, lecturers, and politicians continue to push back, the question remains: Will the Welsh government and Cardiff University find a way to protect these critical programs, or are these cuts inevitable?
