About 100 posts are set to be cut at Staffordshire University.
Academic, professional services and some management posts are set to be lost, but the university - which employs some 1,900 staff - refused to confirm which subject areas would be most affected.
It blamed increased costs and a need to match staffing numbers to subject demand.
The BBC understands the recently expanded esports department is among those to be affected.
The news comes about a month after the university announced a near £3m investment in its esports degree course, including a new gaming arena.
Last month it also revealed plans for a new student village in Stoke-on-Trent.
