The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics warned that science departments in UK universities will be beset by financial difficulties if adequate funding is not ensured.

The two learned societies said that chemistry and physics departments in the UK have to be valued and supported throughout the austerity era to avoid squandering the UK's scientific supremacy.

The 2010 study, which surveys the financial state of a representative sample of physics and chemistry departments in UK universities, shows that some departments face a precarious future because they are already receiving less than required to fund the teaching of their subjects.

This shortfall in teaching funds occurs despite enhanced investment from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE); increased recognition by governments of the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) graduates in society; and wide-ranging efficiency savings in the university departments - from increased class sizes to better use of facilities.

The report was commissioned to assess the impact of funding changes, including HEFCE's allocation of £25 million per year for strategically important and vulnerable subjects which was granted in response to the well-publicised attempted department closures, in particular the chemistry department at the University of Sussex and the physics department at the University of Reading.

All of the departments surveyed for their financial position were assessed on both their research and teaching costs. 

All of the physics and chemistry departments ran in deficit with their research activities: chemistry departments ran deficits ranging from -8.7% to -77.9%; and physics departments ranging between -1.2% and -79.8%.

On teaching, things are brighter in England, partly due to HEFCE's £25 million per year allocation, with some chemistry departments reporting a +10% surplus, this is against others reporting a 50% deficit; a similar pattern was present in physics departments, ranging between +26.7% and -31%.  

Because HEFCE's allocation only benefits English universities, the picture for teaching is much bleaker in the few Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish universities surveyed.