Glasgow University has admitted to serious failings after a student, Ethan Scott Brown, took his own life on the day he believed he had failed to graduate, only for it to be revealed he had, in fact, earned a 2:1 honours degree.
Ethan, a 23-year-old geography student from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, died by suicide on 13 December 2024 , the day he was due to graduate. He had been wrongly informed multiple times that he had not achieved the required grade in one module and therefore would not receive his degree.
An internal investigation, launched following pressure from his family, uncovered systemic errors in the marking and assessment process. A retired senior professor leading the inquiry found that Ethan had accumulated sufficient marks for a 2:1 but that misinterpretations of assessment rules had led to the incorrect outcome. The mistake was missed by both internal and external review panels.
The inquiry also revealed that Ethan had flagged mental health concerns to university staff, but he was not referred for support or counselling. Glasgow University has since admitted these failings and issued an apology to the family, calling the incident a tragic error.
Ethan’s mother, Tracy Scott, said: “Ethan left this world believing he had failed. In truth, he had succeeded. The university failed him both academically and in their duty of care.”
The university insists the error was isolated but has launched a full review of its academic procedures and staff training. Ethan’s family, alongside their lawyer Aamer Anwar, have demanded accountability. Anwar criticised the university’s reluctance to allow him in future meetings, despite his prior role as Glasgow University rector.
The tragedy has sparked calls for wider reform in how universities handle both academic results and student mental health.
