Tardy marking delays graduation day

A postgraduate student is seeking compensation from Nottingham University after its school of education took four-and-a-half months to mark one assignment, causing him to miss his graduation date by a year.

The school's manager, Rachel Crowley, has accepted that it is "unacceptable" that 44-year-old James Dixon "had to wait so long" for an essay mark, which was part of a one-year MA.

She conceded in a letter: "The procedures in the school should ensure that if students submit their work on time that they should be in a position to meet the deadlines for graduation. I can fully understand the frustration you must be feeling as a result of this."

The university offered to waive Mr Dixon's re-examination fee (when the essay was eventually marked it was failed) but it has not accepted his request for compensation.

"Although we would normally expect a full-time student to complete their taught masters course within a year," Ms Crowley wrote, "I do not believe there is anything within the university's regulations to suggest we are obliged to ensure this."

Mr Dixon is seeking legal advice.

Want to blow the whistle?

Contact Phil Baty on 0171-782 3298 or email him on Phil.Baty@newsint.co.uk