History, maths face axe as unis hit 'world of pain'

The University of Wollongong is the latest to announce redundancies, saying it expected to cut roughly 90 full-time-equivalent positions to save around $15 million to $20 million a year.

The academics union said staff from history, maths and other core teaching departments were on the chopping block.

It follows the Australian National University and University of Canberra pulling the pin on more than 350 positions, and estimates of at least 100 jobs going from regional Queensland universities.

Peak body Universities Australia said its members were dealing with the multibillion-dollar effect of the government's forced reduction in international student numbers.

"Our universities are in a world of financial pain," its chief executive Luke Sheehy told ABC Sydney.

"The government has taken a sledgehammer to international students."

A direction from Immigration Minister Tony Burke had slowed down visa processing and would result in 60,000 fewer visas being granted in the first six months of 2024 alone, he said.

"We think that has been putting at least 14,000 jobs at risk and it is a $4 billion hit to our universities and to the Australian economy," Mr Sheehy said.

The University of Wollongong said no final decisions had been made but its cuts would address "unviable teaching areas".

A significant reduction in international onshore student enrolments had caused a $35 million drop in revenue in 2024, it said.

"There are some areas of the university with low student enrolment where we can no longer justify maintaining our current levels of staffing," interim vice-chancellor John Dewar said.

The academics union was sceptical the foreign student cap was completely to blame.

"At the University of Wollongong, there's only a minor effect of that - their enrolment cap is only eight per cent below what it was," National Tertiary Education Union general secretary Damien Cahill told AAP.

"It certainly doesn't justify the sort of widespread cuts - and they've announced there will be more next year."

Dr Cahill said affected staff were from history, maths and other core teaching departments as well as linguistics and cultural studies.

"This really compromises the ability of the university to offer these courses," he said.

"It's a devastating blow for members and they're very concerned for their colleagues."

International education was worth $36 billion to the Australian economy in 2022/23 after falling sharply due to pandemic border restrictions.

Economic impact was down $10 billion in 2020/21 and $17 billion in 2021/22 on pre-pandemic figures.

Australian Associated Press