Staff at one of Scotland’s biggest universities have been warned to brace for strike action amid looming job losses following a sharp fall in international student numbers.

The University of Glasgow had already lined up major savings in next year’s budget – but the Mail can reveal unions have now been informed that further ‘reshaping’ must take place.

A review of the curriculum is also expected – as well as a ‘condensing’ of the university’s large estate as part of a series of cuts which sources said were ‘much bleaker than anyone thought’.

Universities increasingly depend on tuition fee cash paid by students from overseas because the number of Scottish students – who study without having to pay – is strictly capped by the SNP government.

Scottish Tory education spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: ‘The SNP has undermined Scottish universities at every turn. Their failure to provide adequate funding solutions has left our world-class institutions dependent on international students at the expense of places for Scots. Ministers must take urgent steps to reverse the damage their policies have inflicted.’

University officials said there was no target figure for the sum to be cut, and they stressed that the job losses would be voluntary severances rather than redundancies.

In an email to staff, Professor Andy Schofield, principal and vice-chancellor, said the ‘financial environment is becoming increasingly challenging’. He said: ‘This is largely due to continued contraction in the international student market.

‘We are currently forecasting a decline in international postgraduate taught students... The University Court has therefore approved a budget aimed at maintaining a small underlying financial surplus and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the institution.’

He added: ‘Inevitably, this will have implications for the size of our workforce, affecting both academic and professional services roles.’

Professor Schofield said that the voluntary severance scheme will be announced in August ‘following consultation with the campus trade unions’.

Tertiary Education Minister Ben Macpherson said the Scottish Government 'expects the university to engage meaningfully with staff and students on any cost reduction measures'.

He said: 'The UK Government's Immigration White Paper is seriously undermining Scotland's higher and further education sectors' ability to attract and retain talented international students and graduates, who enrich our communities and help drive up economic growth.

'We continue to call on the UK Government to change their approach and create an immigration system that meets Scotland's economic and demographic needs.

'The UK Government should engage constructively on existing proposals for a tailored approach to migration, including a Scottish Graduate Visa, and we urge the Home Office to take seriously the strong concerns raised by [umbrella body] Universities Scotland.'