Edinburgh University students are planning peaceful protests at graduation ceremonies after being told their results would be delayed.
The university said the decision was in response to a nationwide boycott of marking.
That could mean up to 2,000 of their students graduating without knowing their final grade.
Some have told the BBC they may refuse to shake the headmaster’s hand or wear gowns to their graduation ceremonies as a protest.
Laura Brady, who studied French and Italian in Edinburgh, said next month’s ceremonies would be an opportunity for students’ voices to be heard.
She said: “Things like not wanting to shake hands with the headmaster – that’s definitely something that’s prevalent with all students our year, especially because he’s the one making decisions.”
“So why should we shake his hand?”
When asked how students might articulate their frustration, she said, “I think definitely very peaceful, we don’t want to ruin the day.”
“It will be interesting to see what our students make of it.”
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The tagging boycott is part of industrial action by members of the University and College Union (UCU) at 145 UK institutions over pay and working conditions.
Universities are making independent decisions on how to minimize the impact of the grade boycott at each institution, so the impact on students will vary.
Cambridge University, for example, has confirmed that students cannot graduate until all their work has been graded.
However, on Monday the University of Edinburgh emailed students from certain schools that the decision on whether to complete their studies had been delayed.
Most Edinburgh students have already received their grades or provisional honors and will receive their final proficiency rating at a later date.
But a significant portion of students will graduate without any idea of their grade.
Some students at the language school fear it may not be until January before they know their results – although the university has said it is working to publish the results as soon as possible.
Luciano Sipiano, a fourth-year social anthropology and politics student from Italy, said he fully agreed with students who spoke about protests at graduation ceremonies.
As he shook hands with the director, he said: “I wouldn’t like to shake his hand – why should I?”
“I’ve also heard people don’t want to wear the right clothes and want to wear a white t-shirt that says ‘unclassified’ or ‘pay your staff’ – so rebel against the dress code.”
Luciano will graduate with an unclassified degree despite submitting his dissertation in the first semester – before the grades boycott.
He says he’ll attend the graduation ceremony anyway, but thinks it’s “completely ridiculous” that he won’t have a secret degree.
“I think it’s just a slap in the face,” he said. “I have the feeling that the university, at least at the higher levels, doesn’t care about the teaching staff and the students.
“They treat the students as a source of money and probably don’t think the teaching staff earns a respectable salary. What I perceive is just a lack of communication between the higher levels and the students.”
Students graduating without a grade previously told the BBC the move has jeopardized job applications, internships and work visas.
Laura is in this situation – she has a job offer that requires a degree and says she can’t take it right now.
She said: “My biggest concern is the financial side. Many people cannot go straight home and live with their parents.”
“They have to fend for themselves, make a living and the fact that we don’t have a degree means we can’t apply for the top jobs, which means we basically can’t afford to life.”
“I can’t pay my bills right now.”
In a lengthy statement, the University of Edinburgh said it “deeply regrets” the uncertainty surrounding students’ futures.
The company told students they can request a letter from employers proving they have completed their studies and said the company will support students through its careers service.
Peter Mathieson, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the university, told the BBC that around 6,000 students normally graduate each year and around 4,000 are certain to graduate this year.
He said the university did not choose to take the measure and was “forced on” it.
He said: “We are one of 145 employers that are part of this, so as an institution we cannot resolve the underlying dispute on our own. There is an underlying dispute that needs to be resolved, hopefully through compromise, hopefully through negotiation.”
When asked about the students who graduated without knowing their final grades, he said, “We’re really sorry they’re in this situation — they’re angry, they’re rightly angry.”
“We want them to be proud of themselves too. Despite the pandemic, cost of living problems, war in Europe, climate emergency and now industrial action, these students have completed their studies.”
“From here they will eventually progress to an Edinburgh University degree that is respected around the world.”
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