Maths degrees are being cut by a university making multi-million pound savings - just weeks after the subject became the most popular at A-level for the first time.
Ulster University (UU) said budget reductions meant it could no longer offer stand-alone maths adding that it was also shutting its school of modern languages.
As many as 70 different courses are to go across six subject areas.
The university has already said higher education cuts were forcing it to shed up to 1,200 student places, while 210 staff will also go. The four-campus university has had its annual budget cut by almost £9 million.
UU has 27,000 students of which 13,000 are full-time undergraduates. The 1,200 cut will be to this group. It hopes that it can achieve the 210 job losses, from a workforce of 2,800, through voluntary redundancies.
The biggest casualty is the school of modern languages, which has about 20 staff. Other subject areas affected will be interior design, marine science, computing, maths and business management. Of these, only interior design and languages will close in their entirety.
While it costs UU £14 million a year to maintain its multiple campuses, there is no consideration being given to closing any of them aside from the planned relocation of many Jordanstown courses to the expanded `art college' campus in Belfast. The £250 million plans, which will also not be affected by the latest cuts, will see student numbers in the city centre rise from 2,000 to 15,000.
Vice-Chancellor Paddy Nixon said the implications of the Executive budget would have far reaching consequences for young people and the economy.
"We cannot absorb further cuts so now more than ever, we must be decisive. We must strengthen our focus on the sustainable delivery of high quality teaching and world-leading research that produces graduates with industry ready, relevant skills that benefit business and society," he said.
"As a multi-campus institution, Ulster University faces particular considerations and our decisions reflect a strategic, longer term vision, not just for each campus but for the entire institution. Each campus will now have specific sectoral alignments, essentially becoming centres of expertise.
"Course closures were always inevitable and in addition to the courses and combination options already confirmed for closure in January of this year, a further six subject areas will be affected for 2016/17 entry. Not all of these will result in closure. Some of these subjects will transfer between campuses, consolidating provision and enhancing student opportunity. Only a small number will close in their entirety."
Factors taken into consideration included student demand, student satisfaction, employment statistics and research performance. The numbers taking modern languages and maths, the vice-chancellor said, were very small and first preference applications were "exceedingly low".
This year will be the last year of intake and students already enrolled will be allowed to finish their courses.
Prof Nixon added that consolidation of teaching provision meant a necessary reduction of staff numbers.
"This has not been an easy process, particularly for affected staff, many of whom have given many years of commitment to the university and our students. It is however, an opportunity for this institution to reinforce its position as we look to our future vision and growth opportunities," he said.
"No single campus can be protected from the impact of the cuts however Ulster University remains committed to realising the full potential of each campus, including Magee. Any expansion at the Magee campus remains subject to a number of factors, including demand from students, government releasing student numbers (MASN), available budget and the delivery of key infrastructure commitments by stakeholders across the region."