Dundee University could see financial aid to "survive and thrive"
The university announced a £30m funding hole
A £30m financial blackhole at Dundee University could be helped by the higher education funding authority.
The university announced the projected shortfall as being partly the result of a fall in recruitment of international students.
It comes as members of the University and College Union have voted to strike if proposed job cuts to balance the books go ahead.
The new chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) said she wanted to ensure the institution could "survive and thrive" and pledged to carefully consider requests for financial aid.
"Survive and thrive"
Speaking to The Scotsman, SFC chief executive Francesca Osowska said no other Scottish universities were believed to be under as much financial pressure as Dundee.
She said: "Let's see what is on the table in terms of the financial recovery plan that Dundee offer.
"When I say we stand ready to support, we stand ready to support not just with our expertise, which I think is probably one of our key calling cards, but if there is a financial ask, we will look really carefully at that.
“We want this institution to survive and thrive."
Asked if significant public funding could be used, she said "there could be", adding that existing funding could perhaps be provided in a more "phased way".
"Will continue to offer support"
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The First Minister and education ministers are closely engaged on the issues at the University of Dundee.
"Whilst universities such as Dundee are autonomous institutions with responsibility for their own strategic and operational decision making, the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council will continue to offer support to individual universities as they develop their own plans to mitigate their financial challenges.
"The Scottish Government recognises that this will be a worrying time for the staff and students at the University of Dundee, and we expect employers and trade unions to work together, in line with our Fair Work principles, to ensure workers are treated fairly.
"Our universities play a pivotal role in Scotland's economy and wider society and the contribution of the University of Dundee is significant in that respect."
Rayo Premium