The family of a University of Glasgow student who died by suicide after being wrongly told he could not graduate has asked the Education Secretary to investigate all Scottish universities.
Ethan Brown, 23, was found dead by his mother in December 2024 on what should have been his graduation day after the university told him he did not have the necessary credits. A month later, it emerged that the geography student had in fact achieved a 2:1 honours degree. A subsequent report exposed systemic failings, despite the university describing the “tragic error” in Ethan’s case as an “isolated” one.
Family meets Education Minister
The family met with Education Minister Màiri McAllan MSP on Wednesday after confirming they had settled a civil case - the first of its kind - with the university. Family lawyer Aamer Anwar said they had asked the Scottish Government to “look at all Scottish universities” after other students were found to have been failed by their institutions.
Mr Anwar said: “Today’s meeting with the Minister was important and welcomed. The Minister offered to ask the QAA (the expert body for UK higher education), who are investigating the University to meet with the family. The Minister has promised to investigate the assurances that the University gave them. The Government has been asked to look at all Scottish universities and see how big a problem exists.”
Grade error and investigation
Ethan, a former pupil of Coatbridge High School, had been due to graduate in June 2024, but the university wrongly said he could not because an assignment had not been handed in. He hoped to graduate that December, but in September was told he had not been awarded a grade for one course and would not be eligible to graduate. His mother Tracy found him dead three months later. The circumstances only came to light when relatives pushed for answers over Ethan’s grades.
In January, a review by the QAA referenced an earlier internal review by the university into the circumstances of Ethan’s death, which found that two other students at the geography school had been given wrong outcomes and five more students had potential errors. The QAA report also found the university had failed to carry out any probes into 23 other schools at the institution.
Family demands accountability
Ethan’s mother Tracy, his step-father Colin Scott, aunt Marylin Neil, uncle Alan Neil and their legal team met the education minister at St Andrews House in Edinburgh. It came a day after they confirmed they had settled a civil case with the university for an undisclosed sum. They want to see a fatal accident inquiry into the case and a potential criminal prosecution.
Mr Anwar said: “The family welcomed the apology by Ms McAllan for her predecessor’s statement in September 2025, which had implied an acceptance of the University’s position that Ethan’s case was an ‘isolated incident’. The University failures over Ethan were catastrophic and systemic. They failed not just in their duty of care to Ethan but to many other students over the years. The University’s public statement that Ethan’s case was ‘isolated’ was false, they knew they were being investigated by the QAA and SFC for systemic failures and their own internal investigation had revealed systemic failures. It is students and lecturers that are the heart and soul of the University of Glasgow, but sadly in its drive to become a global institution it has forgotten its heart and soul. The University is a powerful institution that operates like a global corporation lacking transparency and accountability. Ethan’s family places the University of Glasgow on notice that they will be held to account and their governance process is not fit for purpose. The University in settling the civil action accepted they were at fault. The family will not give up until there is a legacy of Ethan Brown, to ensure that no other students suffer as he did.”
University chiefs have said they are “profoundly sorry” that Ethan took his life and that the university is “on track” to implement changes recommended by the targeted peer review. The Daily Record has approached the university and Scottish Government for comment.
