Students at the University of Edinburgh are planning peaceful protests at graduation ceremonies after being told their degree results will be delayed due to a UK-wide marking boycott. Up to 2,000 students could graduate without knowing their final mark, sparking frustration and plans for symbolic acts of dissent.
Some students have said they may refuse to shake hands with the principal or wear gowns at ceremonies next month. Laura Brady, who studied French and Italian, said: 'Things like not wanting to shake hands with the principal - that is definitely something that is widespread.' She added that protests would be peaceful, saying: 'We don't want to ruin the day.'
The marking boycott is part of industrial action by the University and College Union (UCU) at 145 UK institutions over pay and working conditions. While universities are taking independent decisions, Edinburgh has delayed results for many students in certain schools, with some fearing they may not know their classification until January.
Luciano Sipiano, a fourth-year social anthropology and politics student from Italy, said he agreed with protesting. He mentioned ideas such as wearing white T-shirts reading 'unclassified' or 'pay your staff'. He called the situation 'utterly ridiculous' and 'a slap in the face', adding: 'They treat students as a source of money.'
Students have warned the delay puts job applications, internships and work visas at risk. Laura Brady has a job offer requiring a degree but cannot accept it. She said: 'We can't apply for the top jobs... we then can't afford to live basically.'
The University of Edinburgh said it was 'deeply sorry' for the uncertainty. Principal Peter Mathieson told the BBC that around 4,000 of the usual 6,000 graduates are certain to receive a mark, and that the university had not chosen this action but it had been 'forced upon them'.
