Students attending Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University could face disruption over the coming weeks as some staff are expected to take part in 18 days of strike action.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will take to the picket lines on various dates during February and March in a dispute over pay, working conditions and pensions.
The union, which represents lecturers and support staff, said over 70,000 staff at 150 universities across the UK will take "unprecedented strike action" over 18 days having previously held three days of action last November.
Read more: NI health workers set to take to picket lines again in 24 hour walk-out
The strike is due to begin next Wednesday, February 1, with further walkouts planned for Thursday, February 9 and 10.
UCU members at both Queen's and Ulster University are also expected to walk out on February 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27 and 28.
Further action is planned on Wednesday, March 1 and 2, followed by March 16 ,17, 20, 21 and 22.
If the action goes ahead, it will be the biggest series of strikes ever to hit UK university campuses.
The UCU is due to meet with university employer representative the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) today for last-ditch talks.
The union says employers need to substantially improve on the pay offer of 4-5% to avoid disruption. The UCU is demanding a meaningful pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis as well as action to end the use of insecure contracts.
In the pension dispute, UCU is demanding employers revoke the cuts and restore benefits. The package of cuts made last year will see the average member lose 35% from their guaranteed future retirement income.
For those at the beginning of their career, the UCU said losses are in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
UCU will also be reballoting its 70,000 members at the 150 universities in dispute to extend the union's mandate and allow staff to take further action through the rest of the academic year. The reballot campaign will be launched this week.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "The university sector in the UK has over £40bn sitting in reserves, but instead of using that vast wealth to deliver a cost of living pay rise and reverse devastating pension cuts, university vice-chancellors would rather force staff to take strike action and see campuses shut down.
"There is a clear route out of these disputes, but at present vice-chancellors lack the political will to take it. They are failing staff who want to get back to work, and students who want to get on with their studies.
"Students understand that staff working conditions are their learning conditions and we are proud to have their support in these disputes. A system that relies on low pay and the rampant use of insecure contracts is a system which fails everyone.
"A resolution can be reached, but that is in the gift of university vice-chancellors who need to urgently reassess their priorities and deliver a deal that benefits staff and students.
"From February, our union will begin reballoting its members to allow action to continue through the rest of the academic year, should they continue to drag their feet."
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