The impact of the marking and assessment boycott on our graduating students - 4/07/23
Along with many other universities in the UK, Cardiff University is experiencing disruption as a result of the marking and assessment boycott called by the University and College Union (UCU). The impact of this action is concentrated in a few of our Academic Schools.
We have now been able to assess the impact of the boycott. The majority of our final year students will receive a classified degree (e.g. a 1st, 2:1, 2:2). Unfortunately, a number of our students will receive an unclassified degree for the time being. For a further small number of our students, we are currently unable to provide an outcome for their degree.
We are painfully aware that those students who are affected are feeling deeply disappointed, worried and anxious. We know that this situation is having a significant impact on their future plans. We too are dismayed to see the impact of this national dispute at a time when our students should be celebrating the successful end of their undergraduate experience and looking forward to their next steps.
Our graduation ceremonies and celebrations will go ahead. We hope that all final year students will feel able to join us to mark the culmination of their undergraduate journey with us. Those who wish to postpone will be able to join our ceremonies in 2024.
We will do everything possible to get our students’ work marked as soon as possible, while maintaining academic standards, and will provide full marks and classifications as quickly as we can.
We are liaising with employers and other universities to ensure that as far as possible, our students are able to begin their careers or undertake further study.
The Home Office has confirmed that international students will be able to apply to extend their student visa permission from within the UK whilst they wait for their results.
We know that this is an incredibly stressful time for our affected students. We are providing bespoke communications to every affected student, and have increased capacity in our Student Connect service to provide them with support. We encourage students to use this service, which enables access to a wide range of specialists in careers, finance, health and wellbeing.
This is a national dispute. The University cannot solve these issues independently. We are committed to the joint national consultation process and to finding an affordable solution that recognises the highly valued contribution of our staff. We continue to work constructively with Cardiff UCU on local issues where we are able to make improvements for our staff.
We hope that a conclusion can be drawn soon to this period of industrial action, for the benefit of every member of our community.