Statement on the marking and assessment boycott

University of Edinburgh statement on the impact of the UCU marking and assessment boycott:

“Most of our students will receive a classified degree. In other cases we have provided a provisional award or we have not yet been able to provide an outcome.  

“We recognise the significant impact this is having on our students’ lives and future plans and we share their disappointment at being caught in the crossfire of this national dispute.

“We are committed to academic standards and this is reflected in the careful work we have been doing to try to mitigate the impact of the marking and assessment boycott and provide students with their degrees as a culmination of all their hard work. It is this commitment that, unfortunately, is leading to the delays in outcomes experienced by some students.

“Our priority is to ensure that any outstanding assessments are marked in a timely manner so that we can provide a full and final degree classification for all students who have completed their programme this year.

“In the meantime, affected students can request a letter of completion of studies, which can be provided to employers or other institutions to clarify what marks they have received so far and the courses for which marks are still pending.

“Graduations are continuing as planned. All students who have been awarded their degree, final or provisional, or who are awaiting a final decision on their degree outcome, will be able to participate in a ceremony. Students who do not yet have an award can choose to defer to a future ceremony if they prefer. As in any year, those who have failed or not completed their final year for reasons not directly related to the marking and assessment boycott will not be able to participate in the graduation ceremony.

"We are acutely aware that delays associated with the boycott are a major source of anxiety for our students, and we are deeply sorry about the continued uncertainty they face over their futures. We are working closely with many employers and through national groups, such as the Institute for Student Employers, as well as with other universities in the UK where students maybe seeking further study. We recognise that the impact may vary from student to student and we will help any student as best we can with their future planning with the support of our Careers Service.  

“For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that students will be able to apply to extend their student visa permission from within the UK whilst they wait for their results.

“We are communicating regularly with students and we have a range of support available. We recognise the impact this is having on their wellbeing and have set up a dedicated helpline for those affected.

“Pay and pensions are nationally negotiated, which is the system preferred by the Universities and Colleges Union. This is therefore a national dispute affecting 145 higher education institutions. We are not able to make decisions in isolation without national compromise, though we endeavour to influence negotiations where we can.

“Disappointingly, our efforts to seek a local resolution with UCU leadership were rejected and our attempts to appeal to staff directly have also been unsuccessful.

“We will continue to engage in conversations with UCU Edinburgh on other employment matters which are within our local control and where we can make improvements in the ways we support our staff at the University of Edinburgh.”

Additional information

• A marking and assessment boycott enquiry hub can be contacted via infopoint@ed.ac.uk.
• The University has not implemented a ‘no-detriment’ policy for this industrial action. Our approach to the marking of assessments and dissertations is in line with the sector as a whole, including progression and degree outcomes.  
• All exams and assessments will be marked by those who set the assessment should they decide to end the boycott or by qualified academic experts from the University in the relevant fields. 
• The measures we have in place to account for the impact of industrial action are accompanied by conditions to ensure that academic standards are maintained at all times.   
• We are committed to ensuring that every assessment counts, even if that takes some time. The final degree that students are awarded will be based on the full body of work submitted and will be assessed in its entirety. 
• More than two thirds of our final year students have already received a decision about their award. For the remaining third of students (around 1600) we have been unable to provide an outcome yet. 
• Participation in the marking and assessment boycott is considered partial performance of contract and varying deductions are being made by institutions across the UK impacted by this action. Though we reserve the right to withhold up to 100 per cent of pay in these circumstances, we recognise that staff are continuing to undertake some duties and as a result those participating in the boycott are receiving 50 per cent of their usual pay.
• Although we are not obliged to do so, the University intends to pay full employer pension contributions for those taking part in industrial action, i.e. we will not reduce our employer pension contribution to reflect the amount of pay we will withhold for taking part in the boycott of marking and assessment processes. We will also process contributions, based on colleagues' normal pensionable pay. This ensures they will maintain full pension benefits despite participating in this action.

Industrial action - updates and information for students