Final year students at universities in Wales face delays in getting their degree results this summer with industrial action over pay leaving exams, dissertations and essays unmarked. They say they feel angry and frustrated after a university experience marred by Covid restrictions, strikes and now a marking boycott.
Some are demanding compensation as they called on university employers and the University College Union to settle the long running dispute, which pre-dates the pandemic. The national marking boycott by UCU members has already seen Cambridge University tell students that “the completion of their degrees and their graduation may be delayed”.
Swansea University confirmed degree results may not be confirmed until after graduation. Aberystwyth University said regulations are in place “to ensure as far as possible that anyone who might be affected by the action are able to receive results”.
Cardiff University said measures would be taken to “ensure degrees are valid” and academic standards are maintained, but could not give details about how marking would be done. A spokesperson admitted the impact of the boycott was not yet clear.
Voicing their frustration students expressed some sympathy for lecturers, saying they deserved more pay, but felt they were “piggy in the middle” and their university experience had suffered. They called on employers to resume negotiations and possibly compensate students with money they have from withholding pay to UCU members boycotting marking.
