SOAS plans for a strong and positive future

29 May 2020

The action we are taking to address our financial position is being commented on in the press. The financial challenges caused by Covid-19 is a matter affecting all universities in the UK. Every institution needs to plan for significant changes in their income caused by Covid-19 which has impacted every country across the world. SOAS is taking decisive action now so that we can continue to ensure we provide an excellent student experience to our new and returning students.

The importance of SOAS continuing to play its distinctive role in UK and global higher education is vital as the very latest THE Impact rankings on the UN Sustainable Development Goals demonstrate. We are proud to play a world-leading role in finding solutions to achieving some of these goals.

Our accounts show that SOAS has already taken steps to reduce its deficit position, but the impact of Covid-19 has put finances across the HE sector under even greater pressure than before.

We have taken short-term action to reduce costs for example pausing capital spend, line by line scrutiny of non-pay budgets, reducing the use of building space in Bloomsbury outside our core estate. Additional proposals for change are being developed now to be implemented by September 2020.

Those proposals are being developed and discussed with SOAS colleagues across the university and will be subject to consultation. We have made it clear that there will be difficult decisions including reductions in staffing costs that need to be taken to ensure the successful future of SOAS.

We continue to engage positively with prospective students through virtual open days and other SOAS events, to reassure them of our continued commitment to offering a high quality student experience.

We look forward to welcoming returning and new students to SOAS in September and have set out for them this week how we will deliver an excellent student experience with a mix of online delivery and in-person academic support.