The Higher Education Authority has confirmed that it is in talks with third-level groups about how more savings can be achieved in the sector.
The Department of Education has said while there are no specific proposals under consideration for the rationalisation of individual faculties, there is a plan in place to examine overall resourcing in the sector.
The HEA said discussions are ongoing with the groups representing the country's universities and the Institutes of Technologies as to how some courses can be streamlined.
What is regarded as the unnecessary duplication of courses and ones that are under-subscribed are likely to come in for particular attention.
The result could be fewer courses on offer for students.
It is unclear when the proposals will be finalised.
The organisation representing university teachers, the IFUT, said compulsory redundancies arising from any rationalisation process will not be acceptable.
A spokesman for the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe said he has no specific proposals for rationalisation but said the minister welcomes any initiatives by the sector aimed at ensuring the most effective use of Exchequer funding.
