The University of Brighton is cutting 103 of its academic staff, a move unions and staff claim will "decimate" certain subjects.
The university said it had retained "the right staff with the collective skills, experience and expertise to continue to deliver our full range of courses".
Nearly a quarter of the redundancies are compulsory.
An academic who has lost her job said the situation was "a big mess".
"I feel bad for the students as well as myself," said Kate Augherston, a principal lecturer in English literature.
