Furious students have hit out at the University of Edinburgh after they were told their degrees would be delayed due to ongoing strike action.
Hundreds of students were sent an email on Monday which informed them they would have to wait to find out their final classification with lecturers striking in search of better pay.
With no deal struck between the University and College Union and Edinburgh University, many have been left with their futures up in the air. Without knowing how they have performed in their final year, students job prospects and ability to apply for masters has been left in limbo.
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Hope Conway-Gebbie studies Sociology and Politics, and says this latest incident is part of a “shambolic’ university experience.
She told Edinburgh Live: "My time at the University of Edinburgh has been utterly shambolic — from a chaotic Covid response in first year and sustained disruption throughout my second year, to constant strike action.
I"t should come as no surprise that at this final hurdle the University has once again fallen. They previously told us to expect provisional degree classifications today, with a no-detriment policy when missing marks are returned after the Marking and Assessment Boycott ends.
"And yet students from at least four schools have been told today that we will graduate without a degree and instead receive a “Letter of Completed Studies” to show potential employers.
“They couldn’t even stick to their own back-up plan! With leadership like this it’s difficult to justify the ludicrous salaries of senior management, especially while staff strike over insufficient pay.
“My experience of the University of Edinburgh can be summed up in one word: shambolic. No wonder our student satisfaction is so low…".
As a Scottish student, Hope has not had to pay mouth-watering fees over the course of her studies. However, some have spent tens of thousands despite currently having no idea when they’ll receive their degree.
English-born Alexander Galpin said: "Not only was the decision delivered on the deadline, it was a decision that was no doubt made earlier last week and as usual, the students, who invest significantly in choosing their institution of study, are the last to know.
"Of course, I am in favour of the reasons in which the boycott was installed, however the resulting impact could have been largely mitigated by the university. The general feeling amongst my peers is one of distress and disillusionment with the university’s handling of the situation.
"I am fortunate enough to hold a job offer that requires me to obtain a 2:1 or higher, but without confirmation from the university, the next steps with regard to further study leading to employment cannot take hold.
“It appears the decisions regarding our futures are being overlooked in favour of a bureaucratic machine driving good grades but incredibly poor student satisfaction."
Within all the uncertainty caused by the ongoing dispute, some students were turning up to exams with no idea whether they would go ahead, or whether they would be marked.
Languages student Athene Robertson said: "For our oral exams this April we were sent an email saying that across all languages, some exams may go ahead and some not. We would only find out if we turned up and if there were two examiners it would be going ahead. If there was only one, the exam couldn't be held so you would be turned away.
"It's obviously hugely frustrating when you don't know what's going to be marked and what isn't. And it causes so much uncertainty for the future, not only because we can't trust the validity of our degrees even if we receive them, but I am looking to apply to a Masters in September abroad which requires 67 per cent to apply and I can't even be sure I'll achieve this or will know if I have achieved this."
A spokesman from the University of Edinburgh said: "Many of our final year students have received their degree results as expected today.
"Some students have received a provisional award and will receive their degree classification at a later date. For others, a decision regarding the outcome of their degree has been delayed owing to the marking and assessment boycott. We have contacted these students individually to advise them of next steps. We recognise the impact this is having on their lives and future plans and we share their frustration at being caught in the crossfire of this national dispute.
"Graduations will continue as planned. All students who have been awarded their degree, final or provisional, or who are awaiting a final decision on their degree outcome, will be able to participate in a ceremony. As in any year, those who have failed or not completed their final year for reasons not directly related to the marking and assessment boycott will not be able to participate in the graduation ceremony.
"Our priority now is to ensure that any outstanding exams and assessments are marked in a timely manner while maintaining rigorous academic standards, so that we can provide a full and final degree classification for all students due to complete their programme this year".
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