Up to 150 jobs at the University of Hull are at risk as part of a £23m cost-savings plan.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dave Petley said the savings needed to be made over two years across the university because of a "drop in income whilst other costs continue to rise".
He said there had been a "significant reduction" in international student applications.
The University and College Union (UCU) said the cuts "would mean a reduction of nearly 14% in the workforce".
Prof Petley said the university was "not exempt from the significant challenges faced by the higher education sector".
He said: “These challenges include a significant reduction in international student applications and changes in UK student recruitment application patterns.
"This means we need to make savings of £23m over two years across the university.
“We now need to make some difficult decisions, including reorganising parts of the university, to both maintain our financial sustainability and to grow and develop.
"In doing so, regretfully, this may lead to a reduction in our staffing numbers."
The proposals also include the merger of two faculties and some schools, though the details have not been disclosed.
Employees were informed of the university's plans on Monday.
As a result, a consultation process with staff and unions has not yet started.
Prof Petley added: “We have spoken to colleagues, and we are at the early stages of a change process, which we expect to complete towards the end of the year.
“I know colleagues have been through change in recent years and I appreciate this is an unsettling time.
"Our trade union representatives will be involved throughout the process.
“We will do everything we can to support colleagues, encourage them to participate in developing the proposed changes and listen to their feedback and suggestions.”
Julie Kelley, UCU's regional official for Yorkshire and Humberside, said staff were "shocked and angry at the scale of the proposed cuts and the speed with which management wants to implement them".
"The cuts would massively increase academic workloads for remaining staff while degrading the student experience and the quality of teaching provision," she said.
