Students at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) were left panicked and sobbing after receiving an erroneous email telling them they had failed their degree and could not attend their graduation ceremony, just days before the event.
What happened
The email was sent on Friday, July 17, 2026, to students from the School of Education and the Manchester Fashion Institute, which includes courses such as BA (Hons) Fashion, Fashion Design & Technology, Fashion Communication, and International Fashion Business. The message stated that recipients had not received enough credits to be eligible for the upcoming graduation ceremonies and that their registration would be cancelled, with guest tickets refunded within five working days.
Students were informed that they would be invited to graduation in November 2027 only after successfully completing reassessments. The email caused widespread distress, with many students taking to social media to express their panic.
Student reactions
One student, Emily, whose graduation was scheduled four days after the email, said: “Why do MMU think it’s okay to send an email to the entire cohort telling us we failed our degree and can’t go to graduation four days before? Genuinely was balling my eyes out for a good 20 minutes thinking it was just me.”
Another student reported hyperventilating at work upon reading the message. Alyssa Downsworth, a fashion marketing student, described shaking and feeling like she was “hyperventilating” after receiving the email. She shared her emotional journey on social media, from initial shock to relief after the mistake was corrected.
Correction and apology
Approximately 20 minutes after the erroneous email, students received a follow-up email explaining that the communication was sent in error. A subsequent email apologised for the “unnecessary concern” caused, and a text message was also sent to confirm that students were still eligible for graduation. However, students reported being unable to reach the university’s student hub phone line during this time, which added to their panic.
In a statement, a Manchester Metropolitan University spokesperson said: “A number of students from our Manchester Fashion Institute and School of Education received an email in error from the University, which incorrectly said they had failed to gain the credits they needed to graduate this summer. No other schools or faculties were affected. The mistake was quickly spotted, and a follow-up email to apologise and ask students to disregard the email was sent minutes later. This was followed by a text message to the affected students. This summer we are celebrating the achievements of more than 12,000 students as they graduate from Manchester Met and we are delighted to be welcoming them to mark the occasion with their friends and families. All students who received the email in error are due to graduate at today’s (July 20) ceremonies.”
