Universities unsure about impact of cuts

England's universities are facing budget reductions of 12 per cent, but it is still uncertain whether optometry departments will be affected.

The overall teaching grant to universities from the Higher Education Funding Council for England has been cut by more than 8 per cent and research by 3 per cent in comparison to last year.

City University in London will see its funding reduced by 10.8 per cent, but told Optician that it was still unsure about the effect this would have on different departments.

A spokesperson for Aston University said: 'Aston receives a £29m recurrent grant, a 3.8 per cent reduction year on year excluding the university modernisation fund. Aston is currently in the middle of the budget review process for 2011-12'.