Published Monday, 21 March 2011
Up to 50,000 students are being affected as academics from Queen's University and the University of Ulster protest over plans to cut retirement benefits.
Lecturers oppose moves to raise the retirement age for academics, increase contributions and end the final salary pension scheme.
Already concerned about how they have fallen behind in the pay stakes, they say they are not about to accept a worsening of conditions without a fight.
This could lead to some impact on exams, Alan Whitaker from the University and College Union has told UTV.
"I really hope there won't be but I am not going to rule it out though," he said. "We think this is a dispute that can be resolved but so far they have refused to sit and talk to us.
"What we are hoping to achieve with these two days of strike action is to get the employers back into talks, back round the table to resolve this dispute."
Sociology lecturer at QUB Katy Hayward says she will bear the brunt of the pension scheme changes.
Aged 33, she will pay more to retire later - at 65 instead of 60 - but she is more concerned about the impact there will be on others.
She told UTV: "The proposed changes will particularly effect part-time workers, those on lower incomes and those who come into the pension scheme at a later stage in life which is increasingly happening. We want to make a stand for these individuals."
Further strike action is planned to take place throughout the UK for members of the University and College Union.
Hundreds of staff at Scottish universities protested last Thursday.