UNIVERSITY staff are being offered redundancy.

But Huddersfield University is not putting a figure on the number of people they need to take it.

It is part of long-term measures to protect the university as it prepares for government funding cuts.

Staff were told at meetings this week they have the option to take a voluntary severance package if they wish.

The university’s deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Peter Slee, said they were “not planning to make any compulsory redundancies at this time”.

The university is solvent, having recently paid off its debts, but as tuition fees rise to £7,950 a year they face cuts in government funding.

Professor Slee said: “The future funding of English universities remains uncertain. All English universities will have between 80% and 100% of their government funding for teaching removed between 2012 – 14.

“The Government has asked universities to try to recoup this money by charging higher fees to new students who enrol from September 2012.

“It has not ruled out making further reductions in the funding for existing students and in research budgets.

“In the light of this uncertainty Huddersfield University continues to ensure that all costs are managed and is securing further savings through voluntary severance.