Enrolment in over 100 courses at Sydney's University of Technology have been suspended today, as part of a cost-saving redundancy program. It leaves the future studies of those planning to undertake courses in the UTS Business School, Faculty of Design and Society, Faculty of Engineering and IT, Faculty of Health, Law, Science and the Transdisciplinary School, as well as the jobs of over 400 university staff. Wondering if your course was affected? Below, everything you need to know.
What’s changing — and who does it impact?
From 2026, UTS will pause new enrolments across 146 courses, affecting prospective students both local and international. The suspended courses span multiple faculties, including 12 Business courses, 60 Design and Society courses, 14 Engineering and IT courses, 33 Health courses, two Law courses, 21 Science courses, and four from the Transdisciplinary School. You can access the full list of courses by faculty on the UTS website.
Theses changes will only impact future UTS students. So, if you're already enrolled, you’re in the clear — the university has confirmed that current students will be able to continue their studies without disruption.
On the staffing side, the university is planning to cut around 400 jobs, made up of roughly 150 academic roles and 250 professional staff. That’s about 10% of UTS’s entire workforce.
Why is this happening?
UTS says the decision to pause 146 courses comes down to low enrolment. The university has framed the move as a way to ensure its offerings reflect current demand — both from students and employers. Some of the affected courses may eventually return in a revised form, pending internal reviews and consultation.
A statement on the UTS website reads: "Suspension of new student intake does not mean a course will automatically be closed. Sometimes intakes are suspended ahead of phase out, some intakes are suspended while courses are redesigned to refresh curriculum and/or better meet student demand before being offered again
The suspensions will be in place until a decision is made on the future of these courses following consultation with staff and unions through a change proposal process."
More broadly, the changes are part of UTS’s long-term plan to steady its finances. According to the ABC, its part of a redundancy strategy designed to save $100 million a year by 2026.
What’s next — for students and staff
For students: If you're already enrolled in a course at UTS, there’s no immediate change — the university has confirmed that current students will be able to continue their studies as usual. While some courses are being paused for future enrolments, they could be reintroduced later following curriculum reviews and internal consultation.
For staff: UTS has said it’s offering support through counselling, professional development, and well-being services, along with regular updates via town halls and internal communications. Still, many staff members have expressed concern, viewing these measures as surface-level responses to deeper issues around transparency and job security.
Feature image via Pinterest.
