The University of Hull is to close its chemistry department.
It said student numbers were "so low that these courses are no longer financially or educationally sustainable".
The university added that chemistry would continue to be taught where it was part of another subject, such as medicine.
The number of schools is also to be reduced from 17 to 11, with the faculty of arts, cultures and education and the faculty of business, law and politics merging.
In a statement, the university said that the measures would "contribute to maintaining our financial sustainability, and enable us to grow and develop".
"In common with most universities, we are not exempt from the significant challenges faced by the higher education sector," the university said.
"We need to ensure we have the right programmes, the right course design and the right teaching methods in place in line with student demand."
The chemistry department was rated the fourth best in the UK in The Guardian's University Guide 2024.
In an online petition objecting to the closure, opponents said, "The department has long been a cornerstone of Hull's educational and research heritage".
It added: "The move threatens the livelihood of our staff, compromises the education of our students, and sends an unnerving signal to local employers, as one of the largest chemical sectors in the United Kingdom, and our alumni."
More than 4,800 people signed the petition.
