Sussex University students were today spending a seventh day in a "sit-in" in a lecture theatre in protest over proposed job cuts.

A total of around 300 students are thought to have been taking part in the occupation at the University of Sussex's main Falmer campus since last Thursday.

They are protesting at plans to cut 115 jobs and create 20 new posts at the university, with the final decision due to be made next week.

They also want the university to reinstate six of their fellow students who were suspended following another protest earlier this month.

One student tweeting about the protest as Tabitha called on people to: "Save Sussex from fools who want to waste the uni's dwindling funds on pointless restructuring. It serves no purpose - please stop!"

She added: "Staff at Sussex Uni have great ideas for reducing/eliminating job losses. Will management actually listen now?"

A university spokeswoman said it has had 15 consultation meetings with each of the three campus trade unions and has received a number of counter-proposals which have been properly considered and reviewed.

She added: "The university has made strategic proposals to respond to the challenging financial climate for higher education, to ensure that we remain a leading research-led university.

"Our Proposal for Change was presented to staff and students in November 2009. It would involve the loss of 115 jobs, and the creation of 20 - out of total staffing of 2,500."

The university does not propose to close any of its departments.

She said the previous sit-in which led to the suspension of six students involved "a break-in, theft, intimidation of staff and significant disruption to the university's work" and the students are due to be subject to a disciplinary process.

Staff who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the Brighton-based university are to take part in strike action tomorrow in protest at the cuts.

University of Sussex UCU representative, Paul Cecil, said: "We understand the financial pressures facing both the university here and the whole higher education sector.

"However, we do not believe that making excellent staff redundant is either necessary or the right thing for the University of Sussex."