University students across Britain have blasted a 'marking boycott' by staff that is threatening to scupper their degrees, graduate jobs and places on training schemes.
The University and College Union (UCU) and members of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers' Association (EIS-Fela) are taking action short of a strike in a bid to secure higher wages.
The marking and assessment boycott means that since April 20, lecturers have not been grading coursework or exams, as they ceased carrying out duties beyond their contract.
Many final-year exams have been cancelled while further strikes are planned at Bristol, Durham and Westminster. And professors at Leeds have voted to walk out indefinitely after bosses decided to deduct striking members' pay by 100 per cent.
Students this week branded the marking boycott a 'slap in the face', with many fearing they will fail to graduate due to not receiving their marks in time.
One fumed on Twitter: 'During my four years at university, we had Covid, a rent crisis, cost of living crisis, strikes, marking boycott, and now more than half the graduating class of 2023 won't even be awarded a degree in time for their graduation, just a course completed certificate.'
