College staff teaching Sheffield's international students have not had pay increase since 2023
Staff at a University of Sheffield branded college have not had a pay increase since 2023.
Teachers at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) are on strike over low pay and working conditions.
The college on Solly Street, bearing the university’s branding but owned and operated by for-profit firm Study Group Ltd, teaches foundation courses to Sheffield’s huge cohort of international students ahead of them starting undergraduate or masters degrees.
However, staff have received a zero per cent pay increase for two years running, and claim to have taken an effective pay cut of 15 per cent since the pandemic.
Despite freezing staff pay, Study Group CEO Ian Crichton took home £680,000 in 2024, including a bonus of over £195,000.
Staff took to picket lines yesterday (March 26) for their sixth day on strike, with two more walkouts planned on March 30 and April 1.
They are calling for inflation-matching pay rises and an end to zero-hour contracts, among other working conditions.
University of Sheffield International College UCU branch chair Sam Morecroft said: “Our members are angry that the college is being slowly run into the ground by an overpaid corporate leadership that shows no interest in quality of education.
“The company remains profitable, but not as much as they want. There is no reason staff should not have had a pay increase.
“We have proposed alternative ways of rewarding staff if a pay increase is not possible, but these have been dismissed.
“Senior managers refuse to meaningfully engage with us and seem to care more about receiving their massive salaries than whether or not their student body has their education disrupted.”
Staff on strike told The Star that Study Group has repeatedly refused calls for changes in working conditions, and have repeatedly pushed the college to cancel strike action on the promise of pay talks that do not materialise after months of waiting.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Our members are taking such significant strike action because they cannot accept another year of frozen pay. Management needs to think again and get back round the negotiating table.”
A spokesperson for Study Group said: "Like many other international education providers and universities, Study Group had taken steps to address a fall in international student recruitment caused by global political uncertainty and economic challenges, as well as hostile visa policies in the UK and U.S.
“As a result, staffing levels are under review and pay increases have been paused across our company until the end of this academic year in order to manage our costs and support long-term sustainability."
It comes after escalating strike action at the University of Sheffield itself, when UCU members held a total of 16 days of strike action beginning in November 2025.
Staff at UoS were informed in an email in September 2025 that leaders are looking for cuts in a bid to slash £23m from staffing costs over the next two years.