Science, technology, engineering and maths courses would be hardest hit by the government¡¯s planned cuts to university funding, according to Universities Australia.

said STEM disciplines would bear 35 per cent of the A$1.2 billion (?740 million) in cuts.

UA looked at subject balance and public funding for those courses, then applied the government¡¯s planned 2.5 per cent ¡°efficiency dividend¡±, to derive the figure. Students will also have to pay higher fees under the plans.

¡°As Australia¡¯s economy transitions into a new high-tech era, scientific skills and literacy are going to be foundational for many more future careers,¡± said UA chief executive Belinda Robinson.

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¡°In the next five years alone, there are expected to be an extra 126,000 scientific and technical jobs that will need higher qualifications.

¡°If we want Australia to be a STEM powerhouse, we can¡¯t afford to cut public funding to train future scientists while also making science students pay more.

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¡°This also runs counter to the government¡¯s own science and innovation agenda, which recognises the need for STEM skills more broadly across our economy.¡±

The government¡¯s measures are part of its budget and include a 2.5 per cent cut in university funding, a 7.5 per cent increase in tuition fees and plans to allocate 7.5 per cent of funding on a teaching performance-contingent basis.

The plans will come down to votes in the Senate, where the Liberal-led government does not have a majority.

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com