The university currently employs more than 3,000 people.

Professor Gillespie told staff: “We need to take further action now to secure our financial stability and long-term future.

“Given our cost profile, it is inevitable that this will result in a reduction in our workforce.

“It will be a very difficult time, certainly for this financial year and the next.”

A member of staff told BBC Scotland News: “Freezing staff recruitment and not filling vacancies will overburden already demoralized staff, and the threat of redundancy only makes matters worse.

“Staff benefiting from precarious temporary contracts will initially be the most affected.

“While most staff care about students and go the extra mile to help them, as always, it is the students who will feel the effects the most.”