A PETITION has been started and a demonstration planned after fears that lecturers at the University of Bolton could lose their jobs.

University bosses said a "consultation process" was under way but no decisions "have been made".

The consultation affects media studies and art and design and students say they are fearing the worst.

A spokesman for the University of Bolton said: "Our structure and staffing requirements are regularly reviewed as part of our approach to ensuring the student experience is efficiently enhanced.

"Any new posts and/or positions at risk are discussed with our people as part of a consultation process.

"We can confirm that a consultation process relating to the subject areas of Media Studies and Art and Design has recently commenced.

"No decisions, including the need for any redundancies, have been made."

Trade union, the University and College Union says it is looking to speak to the university to get clarity about potential plans for the department areas.

University and College Union regional official, Martyn Moss said: "For the university to make this announcement while attention was focused on the teaching rankings is disappointing and an insult to the staff who worked so hard to achieve a credible result for Bolton University.

"You do not improve the student experience or the quality of teaching by sacking staff or reducing their standing. We want to speak to the university to get clarity behind what exactly their plans are and the rationale."

A protest has been organised for July 1.

Michaela Connor, who is going into her third year of her art and design course, said: "Everyone is angry and disgusted.

"We have heard that posts will be made redundant while others may have to reapply for other posts which pay less, which could lead to our lecturers applying for jobs somewhere else.

"We want to know what is going on.

"Will we have the same lecturers when we come back after the summer. We love the university and are very worried about what is happening. People are upset, these lecturers have supported us through our course."

Last week Bolton University found out it had been awarded a silver rating under the Teaching Excellence Framework, a new measure used by the Government to grade the quality of teaching at UK universities. Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University were also awarded silver, while Salford University was awarded bronze.