Lecturers at the University of Dundee are beginning an unprecedented five-week strike over the threat of compulsory redundancies.

Members of the UCU union will not take part in lectures, seminars or tutorials until after 23 October.

The vote for “last resort” industrial action was the latest move in a long-running dispute which started almost two years ago when the university announced a £30m deficit.

Since then, 675 jobs have been lost through voluntary redundancy, and the university has received bailouts of £40m from the Scottish government and £22m from the Scottish Funding Council.

The latest of wave of cuts was announced in June proposing to close 187 posts, however that figure fell to 154 job losses by August.

Since the announcement, UCU bosses said there had been 149 applications for voluntary redundancies, which should now rule out the need for compulsory redundancies.

The university said it “anticipates the majority of classes will run as normal” from Monday and that it would seek to minimise the impact of strike action on students.

Dr. Melissa D’Ascenzio, co-president of the Dundee UCU branch told BBC News: “None of our members want to go on strike for five weeks, this is absolutely last resort that we’ve come to.

“The university is still refusing to remove the threat of compulsory redundancy.

“There has been no attempt from the university to try to find common ground and try to avoid five weeks of disruption.”

Lecturers previously went on strike for three weeks in February last year. Two voluntary severance schemes have now run at the institution, with previous rounds focused on professional services staff who work alongside academics.

But the latest round of redundancies over the summer was aimed at lecturers and researchers.

Union officials said they were keen to highlight the impact of previous cuts to student services and the student experience.

BBC News understands that while lecturers are not required to notify the university in advance of taking strike action, some academics told students during freshers week that their classes might not be on.

Iain Ellis, co-president said, “New and returning students will be impacted at the start of term, which is hugely regretful, but we’re also clear that university management cutting more jobs and more staff leaving will have a major and long-term impact on students’ education and the university.”

Tom Christisen, president of the students’ association (DUSA), said he recognised that the action could have a significant impact on students.

He said, “At the same time, we recognise why staff have reached this point. The prospect of compulsory redundancy has created significant uncertainty for colleagues about their jobs and futures at Dundee.

“Our responsibility is to stand up for students throughout this period, while continuing to press the university to address the circumstances that have led to industrial action.

UCU members at the campus are already working to contract, refusing to carry out “extra” unpaid tasks, such as attending weekend open days.

This is unlikely to stop unless the dispute is resolved. It does not currently include a marking or assessment boycott.

In previous strikes, a “no-detriment” policy was applied to prevent students being penalised and removing untaught topics from assessments.

UCU officials told the BBC they would expect this to apply again now.

A spokesman for the university said: “We recognise the right of trade union members to take industrial action and will strive to work constructively with the University and College Union during the dispute. At the same time, the university will seek to minimise the effects of strike action on students, particularly at a time when they are starting the new academic year.

“We anticipate the majority of classes, student contact time, and other activity across the university will proceed as normal. Any impacts will most likely be varied across different areas of the university, reflecting UCU membership.”

UCU members are now striking each weekday for over a month, as the university refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Industrial action is in no-one’s best interests – least of all students’ – so while the Scottish government cannot intervene directly, we encourage universities and trades unions to engage constructively and seek resolution to these disputes.”