GLASGOW University may cut jobs in its modern languages school and an educational research centre.

The moves are part of measures to keep the university financially stable.

The university's ruling court has asked the School of Modern Languages and Cultures to look at voluntary redundancies to reduce staffing levels after a decline in student numbers, particularly in German.

The university has warned it could approve compulsory redundancies if sufficient savings are not found.

An 80-year-old research body - the Scottish Centre for Research in Education - is also under threat of closure because of concerns over the amount of business generated by staff there.

A university spokesman said the centre's future would be considered next month.

The possible job cuts are a reflection of the tight financial climate the sector is operating in.

In 2005, Glasgow launched a voluntary redundancy scheme to make £7m savings.

Sir Muir Russell, the university principal, warned that areas of activity making a "less distinguished contribution" would be targeted.

The school of modern languages, which was formed in 2003, has been struggling to recruit students in recent years.

This month, a report from the university's ruling court noted the "ongoing financial challenges" facing the school of modern languages and requested that it "continue to take every step to reduce costs, including considering the possibility of reducing staff levels".

The school of modern languages has 37 members of academic research and teaching staff.