NI rise puts 'unacceptable' burden on universities

THE collective financial hit to Welsh universities from the rise in employer national insurance contributions is about £18m, according to research from the Liberal Democrats.

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The added running cost to universities come in the face of a challenging financial environment, fuelled by part of a decline in high fee paying international undergraduates and postgraduates.

Most universities, to offset projected deficits, have implement voluntary redundancy and cost-saving measures, including faculty mergers and courses being culled.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats said the UK Government's decision to increase national insurance, which came into effect in April, will leave Welsh universities will a combined £18m year additional cost in their 2025/26 academic years