Student: University of Nottingham strikes 'not what we signed up for'
By Will Jefford, East Midlands
Published 29 September 2026, Updated 4 minutes ago
A student at the University of Nottingham has expressed disappointment after staff voted to go on a three-month strike over restructuring plans.
Zoe Monroe, studying English literature with creative writing, told the BBC that the strikes are not what students expected when they enrolled. The University and College Union (UCU) announced that its members would strike on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by "sustained strike action" from October 5 to December 11 over the university's Future Nottingham restructuring plans.
A spokesperson for the University of Nottingham expressed disappointment with the timing of the industrial action, stating that many students would be unaffected.
"It's not what we've paid and signed up for," said Monroe, "I feel quite shorthanded because it is a lot of money, and I've come to university to learn. It's very disappointing." She also raised concerns about the potential impact on the university's reputation and her future job prospects.
Isaac Wood, a third-year politics and international relations student, supports the strikes but questions the prolonged nature of the action: "I support them and wish them all the best, but it is starting to become a little strenuous."
The UCU's Nick Clare added: "We don't want to strike, but staff will not stand by while colleagues lose their jobs and services are cut." The university previously suspended music and language courses and planned hundreds of job cuts to address significant financial challenges.