Former pro-vice chancellor David Cardwell spent over £5,000 on expenses in the last academic year, including £2,224.78 on hotels.

Cardwell, who served as pro-vice chancellor for strategy and planning until July last year, claimed £5,179 on expenses “in relation to his role” as pro-vice chancellor. His claims made up 65% of all those made by members of the University leadership.

Cardwell received a remuneration package of at least £165,000, according to the University’s latest reporting.

This comes at a time of significant financial pressure for Cambridge, after it was revealed that the University had run up a £53 million deficit with “no clear understanding of what has happened or why”.

Cardwell’s largest claims came from hotels and accommodation, followed by £901.42 on “subsistence” and £448 on “hospitality and entertainment expenses”. He also claimed £243 back on air travel.

Cardwell is currently a Professor of Superconducting Engineering and fellow at Fitzwilliam College, along with being elected as a fellow of the Royal College of Engineering in 2012.

Other than Cardwell a significant proportion of expenses claimed went towards vice-chancellor Deborah Prentince’s relocation, who received £2,535 for her move from Princeton.

This comes after Prentice was named the highest paid Russell Group vice-chancellor, receiving a salary and benefits package worth £577,000 for her first year as vice-chancellor.

The expenses of University leaders are also facing significant scrutiny nationwide, with The Times reporting that UK vice chancellors had spent almost £1 million on foreign trips alone over the past three years.

Among those who made significant claims is Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, who spent almost £4,000 on 25 airport transfers, as well as £16,000 on international visits.

Shortly after her appointment, Tracey described the funding of higher education as “perilous” and called for a “root and branch, whole-scale review” of government subsidisation.

This revelation came in the face of a growing crisis in University finances, with 75 percent of universities predicted to run a budget deficit in 2025-26. This government has raised tuition fees to £9,535 a year in response, with multiple UK universities including Cambridge backing the move.

In response to this, the Cambridge Student’s Union told Varsity that they are “concerned” that the fee rise will create “another barrier for students from low income backgrounds”.

Tuition fees are now projected to exceed £10,000 by 2029, with an announcement that fees will continue to grow with inflation expected to appear next year in the Labour government’s spending review.

A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said: “Cambridge is a world-leading university, and a vital part of the roles of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellors is representing the University at national and international events, and meeting partners and donors to secure funding and opportunities that benefit our students, staff, and research. Cambridge is committed to ensuring that all business expenses are justified and in accordance with University policies.”

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