Edinburgh University principal defends 'difficult' decisions amid staff strike

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson hit out at “misinformation and disinformation” in a statement posted on the institution’s website.

More than 90 programmes are to close at the university next year after it announced £140 million of cuts.

Members of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) have been on strike for five weeks, with the union warning of up to 1,800 job losses.

“Uncertainty and pessimism in the current circumstances are fully understandable,” Sir Peter said. “Misinformation and disinformation are not acceptable.

“As an institution devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and truth, we have a duty to challenge falsehoods and explain our intentions openly so that our students, staff and supporters – including those who may join us in the future – understand where we are going and why.”

READ MORE: Peter Mathieson to step down as Principal of Edinburgh University after decade of turmoil

He denied the university was “turning its back on its Scottishness” with some of the programme closures, which affect areas such as Celtic studies and Scottish literature and history.

“Our role in the study and teaching of Scotland’s past and present is an important element of our vision and our contribution to the wider world,” Sir Peter said.

“The changes being made across our programmes are intended to give students greater flexibility and encourage them to explore subjects and disciplines they might not otherwise have considered.

“As a result, more students at Edinburgh will have the opportunity to study Scotland’s rich histories, literatures, cultures and languages – including Gaelic – as part of their degree pathway, not fewer.”

Sir Peter, who previously announced he will step down as principal and vice-chancellor in 2028, pointed to the wider financial challenges facing higher education.

“The only reason that Edinburgh is not one of the universities listed as at highest risk is because of the tough decisions that we have already taken,” he said. “We should be pleased that our fate is in our own hands: no-one is coming to rescue us.

“When I am confronted with ‘but we are not in a deficit’, my answer is ‘true, but the only reason we are not is that we have been taking decisions for the last couple of years that have prevented a deficit’.

“It is a fact that in the financial year 2025-26 we made £73 million worth of savings by measures such as voluntary severance, restraint on staff recruitment, freezing of promotions etc.

“At the end of the year our financial surplus was £16 million. Do the maths: without the savings we made, the deficit would have been £57 million and we would have been in a similar position to the 38 universities listed in the report as being in immediate financial peril.”

He said “urgent, difficult but strategically important decisions need to be taken now”, adding: “That is the role of responsible leaders: aiming to safeguard the future as well as taking care of the present.

“It is my fervent hope that those of us that genuinely care about the University of Edinburgh will work together to ensure its future.”

The UCU has questioned how one of the richest universities in the UK can “suddenly have a £140-million-sized hole in its budget”.

It has accused Sir Peter - who reportedly earns around £420,000 - of dismissing the concerns and welfare of staff and students.