A union is warning that nearly 300 jobs at two Scottish universities are under threat.

The University and College Union (UCU) says Scotland is in danger of losing a global lead in higher education and that the threatened job losses could be the tip of the iceberg as it says some institutions are failing to consult the union.

A report from the union says nearly 6,000 jobs are at risk, or are being cut, in higher and further education across the UK and in Scotland a total of 280 workers may lose their job - 140 each at Strathclyde and Stirling universities.

UCU Scotland president Lesley McIntosh said: "We have been warning for months of the potential damage that unnecessary and swingeing cuts would do to post-16 education.

"These figures offer a worrying snapshot of what is happening in Scotland's universities and even more worrying is the fact that many institutions have not set out their financial plans as yet.

"The Scottish Government has said that higher education is a funding priority - but that extra funding has not materialised, resulting in funding cuts.

"The Scottish Government must make higher education a priority in the next spending round if we are to maintain our world class reputation."

A spokeswoman for the University of Strathclyde said: "While Strathclyde is in a strong position, the current economic climate has presented the higher education sector with financial challenges that we are not immune from.  

"We announced more than a year ago that we would be launching an Early Retirement and Voluntary Severance Scheme.  The scheme has had a good response and the University remains committed to achieving any job reductions through voluntary means.  The current scheme is open to applications from colleagues and has been developed in close consultation with our colleagues at the Universities and Colleges Union."

Diana Warwick, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said: "Concern over job security in this difficult economic and financial climate is entirely understandable. No one is immune from the current economic problems, including universities.

"However, universities do not want to lose talented individuals – the contribution to the UK economy by higher education will be critical to our way out of the recession – but this is equally why we must ensure our universities are sustainable in a competitive environment.

"Decisions on staffing can only be taken at individual university level. Trade unions are always involved in such discussions, and universities have a good track record in handling staffing changes in an open and fair way. They will be seeking to minimise job losses in the face of the current challenges, and to avoid compulsory redundancies."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said that despite "the tightest financial settlement since devolution", about £5.24billion is being invested in universities and colleges over three years.