When the latest school starts on January 6, the number of papers being offered will be down by a quarter - from 75 to 56 - with much of that reduction involving humanities division papers.
Nevertheless, 14 new papers are also being offered next year, including one on the history of Maori politics, and another on Mozart Opera.
Summer school director Dr Elaine Webster was positive about the student roll prospects, although she acknowledged that student numbers - about 1800 at this stage - were slightly down on the same stage last year.
It is understood numbers may be down about 5% to 10% on the previous year.
About 2200 enrolments have been made for the school so far, compared with a final tally of about 2100 at the previous school, organisers said.
Dr Webster was generally pleased with the overall student figures for the 14th annual summer school.
Organisers said early enrolments could sometimes be significantly reduced by later changes, including students opting to take fewer papers, but current figures suggested a more stable outlook.
It is understood the drop in papers is linked to changes in the university's internal allocation of funding generated by academic departments offering papers at the school.
Whereas funding had previously been allocated directly to individual departments depending on student participation levels, funding is now being provided through academic divisions, which is apparently creating uncertainty in some quarters about exactly how much funding will eventually be received.
By taking papers at the school, students can gain credit for courses with six weeks of study, instead of about 13 weeks usually required to complete equivalent papers during the main university study year.
An academic previously involved in the school programme is ''frustrated and disappointed'' at the uncertainty associated with the new system and said the 25% drop in papers was a ''big change''.
The academic, who asked not to be named, said the school had long brought positive benefits to students, to Dunedin and to the university, including attracting some top overseas academics who arrived over summer to teach some papers.
The effect of funding changes could vary between respective divisions, but it would be a ''great shame'' if the school was harmed by any unintended consequences, the academic said.
University officials have said the university had faced significant budgetary pressures, including from rising costs, in finalising its latest university-wide budget for next year.
Dr Webster appreciated that the university was operating in a ''different environment''.
The funding change was ''very sensible'' and brought school arrangements into line with all other academic papers at the university.
Asked about concerns raised by the academic, she understood some people may have found matters ''difficult'' and had felt some uncertainty.
The latest school would nevertheless continue to deliver positive benefits, including to the Dunedin economy, and she believed next year's school roll could well be fairly similar to this year's.