The family of a student who took his own life after being wrongly told he could not graduate have settled a legal claim with Glasgow University chiefs.
Ethan Brown, 23, was found dead by his mum in December 2024 on what should have been his graduation day after the University told him he did not have the necessary credits. It emerged a month later that the geography student had achieved a 2:1 honours degree and a report later exposed systemic failings.
Now, the family have settled a civil case - a first of its kind - with university chiefs.
Settlement reached in landmark case
Their solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said: “The claim raised complex legal issues. Claims for loss of society against a university following the suicide of a student had not yet been tested before the Scottish courts, while similar claims pursued in England and Wales were unsuccessful.”
“Our Senior Associate Robbie Cole led the civil case, negotiating a settlement with the University for an undisclosed sum.”
“The settlement does not affect the ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding Ethan’s death, nor is it the end for his loved ones. From the very beginning Ethan’s family have fought for truth and accountability from the powerful institution of the University of Glasgow.”
Family calls for Fatal Accident Inquiry
“The family have always said this is about ensuring a legacy from Ethan’s tragic death, and only a Fatal Accident Inquiry will force the University to learn lessons and protect current and future students.”
“The family continue to call for a full and transparent investigation into the University’s academic processes, decision-making and student welfare procedures, or it is only a matter of time before another family experiences the same tragic loss.”
Ethan had dreamt of studying at the university since he was a child and wrote in his sixth-year yearbook that in 10 years he expected to be “still begging Glasgow University to accept me”.
Background to the case
The former Coatbridge High School pupil had been due to graduate in June 2024 but the uni said an assignment had not been handed in. Ethan was unable to graduate and the family say the university failed to communicate with him in the summer but he hoped he could graduate in December.
In September he was told he had not been awarded a grade for one course and wouldn’t be eligible to graduate. Mum Tracy found him dead three months later.
The circumstances of his death only came to light when heartbroken relatives pushed for answers over Ethan’s grades. The university apologised to the family for the “tragic error”.
In January this year, the family said they were “sickened” by the findings of a “targeted peer review” carried out by QAA, the expert body for UK higher education. It referenced an earlier internal review by the university following Ethan’s death which discovered two other students at the geography school were given wrong outcomes, while five more students had potential errors. The QAA report also found the university failed to carry out any probes into 23 other schools at the university.
Anwar branded its conduct as “shameful”.
Next steps
The family will meet education secretary Mairi McAllan MSP on Wednesday to discuss Ethan’s case and issues it has raised within the education sector.
Mr Anwar said: “Ethan’s family remain deeply concerned by findings after being told of the ‘systemic failures’ within the University’s academic systems and question how many other students may have been affected.”
“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are still carrying out a criminal investigation into potential health and safety offences and is considering whether a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held into the circumstances of Ethan’s death.”
“Whilst the family’s civil claim has now concluded, they say their pursuit of answers will continue until they know that the University has truly learned lessons from Ethan’s death.”
The University of Glasgow has been approached for comment.
