// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Universities face 'substantial' funding cuts amid budget delay
Both Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University are expected to have financial deficits in 2025/26
Northern Ireland's universities are facing a "substantial" cut of £21m in the Stormont funding they receive to teach students.
The top official at the Department for the Economy (DfE), Ian Snowden, said the universities were facing a reduction of 6% on the opening funding they received in 2024/25.
The potential cuts come as the Northern Ireland Executive remains seven months into the financial year without a budget.
Snowden said both Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and Ulster University (UU) are expected to have financial deficits in 2025/26.
With no agreed budget for 2025/26, Stormont departments have been operating under contingency arrangements allowing them to spend up to 95% of last year's funding.
The DfE is the Stormont department with responsibility for higher and further education in Northern Ireland.
Universities are mainly funded through student fees and a "teaching grant" provided by DfE.
Further education colleges have already announced big cuts to student places and courses.
Ulster University, meanwhile, is making 450 staff redundant across its campuses to save about £25m.