Dozens of staff at the University of Otago are finding out today if they will lose their jobs.

Sixty five support services workers have been made redundant, in a major review which began in 2015.

The review will affect about 160 full-time equivalent positions.

Tertiary Education Union organiser Shaun Scott says staff are getting hand-delivered letters.

He says it's an emotional time and the union has been offering support on campus.

Tertiary Education Union president Sandra Grey says it's a dark day.

"This would be one of the single biggest waves of redundancies on university campus, and the single biggest change we've seen."

Grey says the support staff serve an important role helping students navigate their study.