Some English universities will receive millions of pounds less from the government in grant income than they did last year, following the decision to cut funding for high-cost subjects and student support.

 (OfS) has announced how it will allocate Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) funding after the government cut £100 million from its budget earlier this year.��

Leeds Trinity University will be one of the hardest hit, seeing the biggest drop among universities in percentage terms. It will receive £1.9 million from the regulator, which distributes the funding, for the 2025-26 academic year, a 65 per cent drop on the £5.4 million it received last year.

Canterbury Christ Church University’s SPG income also was cut by £6.7 million, down 50 per cent from the £13.5 million it received in 2024-25.

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Other institutions which saw significant cuts include the University of Suffolk (-52 per cent), Buckinghamshire New University (-50.6 per cent) and Bath Spa University (-50 per cent).

A spokesperson from Buckinghamshire New University said, "We anticipated these changes (due to courses at franchise providers being disregarded) as part of our budgetary risk assessment and have factored them into our budget planning. We manage our income streams to ensure that the student experience remains paramount."

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The cuts come as many universities face financial difficulties, and the reduction could harm those who have so far managed to avoid a deficit.��Canterbury Christ Church University, for example, recorded a surplus of £3.6 million in 2024-25. The university has been contacted for comment.

Sector leaders have previously warned that the cuts will make course cancellations “inevitable” as universities will no longer be able to support specialist provision in areas being cut back.��

Some institutions saw their funding increase, such as Arden University, which will receive 23 per cent more funding from the SPG next year, growing from £6.4 million to £7.9 million.��

Earlier this year, education minister Bridget Phillipson advised that the OfS should use the funding to support the government’s “long-term ambitions of growth and opportunity”.

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Money was stripped from subjects including media studies, journalism, publishing and information services courses, while the student premium fund – which supports hardship funds as well as disabled students – was also cut.

In documents published on 25 July, the OfS says it was maintaining in cash terms the funding rate for the nursing, midwifery and allied health supplement and the budgets for the very high-cost science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

It has also maintained funding for Uni Connect, an initiative promoting access to university among disadvantaged learners, and for “world leading specialist providers”.��

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com