Principal professor Peter Mathieson announced on Monday that he will not seek a third term as leader of the university and will step down from the role by early 2028.

It comes after staff at the university have begun five weeks of strikes and will not return until October 30, as part of a long-running dispute over budget cuts and compulsory redundancies.

The University and Colleges Union (UCU) has warned up to 1800 jobs are on the line at the university, with hundreds of workers having already lost their jobs after their contracts were not renewed.

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Edinburgh University has also axed 90 programmes in a bid to save £140 million from the institution’s annual budget, including £90m in staff salaries, in a move the union described as “unprecedented”.

Speaking at a meeting of University Court – the institution’s governing body – Mathieson said that every decision he has made he has “always kept the University’s best interests uppermost”.

He said: “It has been my immense privilege to lead two of the world’s great universities. 

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson (Image: PA)

“Every decision that I have made, and those of the executive teams I have led, have always kept the University’s best interests uppermost. 

“We have always acted in good faith, believing we were doing the right things, which are very rarely the easiest things.”

In his speech, Mathieson reflected on the challenges the university has navigated, as well as the “many significant successes and improvements” he said he made since joining in February 2018.

Among those achievements, Mathieson claimed he made “massive and sustained investment” in teaching and student wellbeing. 

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Mathieson also noted the funding challenges facing higher education in his speech and outlined the “vital role” universities play in creating opportunity, transforming lives and driving economic growth.

He added: “I am keenly aware that higher education is at a pivotal moment. 

“At Edinburgh, we are making the tough decisions necessary to restore our University to financial sustainability and resilience for the years ahead. 

“There will be plenty of time for me to thank colleagues and reflect on my time here in due course. 

“For now, I am fully focused on our task at hand, giving it my full attention until the last day of my tenure in around 16 months’ time.”

Edinburgh Futures Institute. University of Edinburgh. Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. (Image: Keith Hunter)

Mathieson received a knighthood in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to higher education and among numerous prestigious positions, for the past five years he has been the lead on international security for Universities UK and the Russell Group.

Following the announcement, an Edinburgh University spokesperson said it will set out plans for a recruitment campaign to appoint a successor. The process will include consultation with staff, students and alumni. 

A spokesperson added that the agreed timeframe will allow the university to identify a new leader and ensure a smooth and orderly transition.