Dundee University bosses say they face “serious challenges” funding the world-leading research the institution is famed for.
Universities Scotland told MSPs on Thursday that only 85% of research funding is met by the public body that distributes education cash for the Scottish Government.
And 10% of money for teaching also has to be found from sources other than the Scottish Funding Council, it added.
A spokesman for Dundee University said they are not alone in facing financial pressures.
He added: “We continue to punch above our weight in attracting research funding and strive continually to ensure that our research is conducted as efficiently as possible.
“But the fact remains that we, and other research intensive universities, have serious challenges in meeting the full cost of carrying out this research.”
Jenny Marra, the Labour MSP, told the public audit committee that is Dundee University struggling to fully capitalise on the research grants it wins.
She said there is “not sufficient money from SFC to actually sustain those grants and sustain the facilities that are required”.
She asked senior Scottish Government civil servants how Scottish universities can continue to perform so well when they are being under-funded.
Paul Johnston, director-general of learning and justice at the Scottish Government, said: “Universities have been and continue to be successful in supplementing the public money that they receive with money from a wide range of other sources and that has been absolutely key in the success.”
