A number of jobs will be axed at Aberdeen University’s medical school as part of a cost-cutting drive.
Staff have been told the university is aiming to save £1.5 million by reducing spending on the school of medicine, medical science and nutrition.
Workers are being offered voluntary severance and early retirement, but so far the exact number of jobs at risk has not been confirmed.
An Aberdeen University spokeswoman said: “The university is committed to securing the long-term success of its school of medicine, medical science and nutrition.
“As part of this commitment we have in place a plan for strategic investment in areas that will deliver excellence in research and teaching, and are aligned with national and international healthcare priorities.
“The school currently faces a budget deficit that represents the main obstacle to this ambition.
“In order to address this the university has opened a voluntary severance and early retirement scheme for academic staff, with a focus on a small number of areas.
“We appreciate this is an unsettling time for some staff, and we are committed to working with them to address any issues of individual concern.
“In the meantime, we would like to reassure all our staff and stakeholders of our commitment to maintaining a world class, research-intensive school with a student experience of outstanding quality.”
Trade unions have voiced concern over the future of workers, and the impact cuts could have on the medical profession in the north-east.
Dr Paddy Mark, of the British Medical Association (BMA), said: “The threat of redundancy may have a significantly adverse affect on academic medicine in Scotland by discouraging doctors from seeking academic careers and raise doubts about the value of research and teaching the doctors of the future.
“The BMA is monitoring the situation in Aberdeen and I would urge anyone who is concerned about the situation to get in touch.”
A spokeswoman for the University and College Union Scotland (UCU) said: “This is a very worrying time for staff, following the previous round of cuts earlier this year.
“UCU will be working with the employer to do everything possible to protect jobs and avoid compulsory redundancies.”
