Students have taken to the streets to protest following the announcement that the University of Sheffield are making £46 million worth of cuts.

£25 million worth of cuts will be made this academic year and an additional £21 million will be made next year. This year, £9 million of these cuts will come out of staff.

Societies from the University of Sheffield gathered on and off campus this week to publicly protest against the university’s funding cuts. On 10 December, they brought their banner to the university concourse to build the anti-cuts campaign.

Students voiced concerns about the reduction in academic resources and the impact on student welfare, urging the university to reconsider its financial decisions and prioritize student needs.

One of the protest organisers, Charlie Thomas, said: “The university’s funding cuts have directly impacted our learning environment.

“As a master’s student, I’ve noticed that many resources in the library are no longer available. Staff redundancies could also affect our dissertation progress. For example, if our supervisor is replaced midway through our work, we might have to start over. We need more support, not fewer resources.”

Protesters displayed banners and gave speeches across campus, highlighting how the cuts could lead to a decline in teaching quality, fewer library resources and inadequate mental health support, arguing that they have the right to expect higher standards of education and services.

The protesters also said that they hope the university will stop spending funds on superficial projects, such as the external construction of The Wave. They also suggested that the university should focus on enhancing its reputation and influence to attract more international students, as their tuition fees are double those of local students.

The protests are ongoing, with organisers encouraging more students to join the movement to protect the University of Sheffield’s academic reputation and student interests.