Mum of Glasgow student who took life after grade error to pick up degree at graduation

The mum of a Glasgow student who took his life after a grading error is to pick up his degree during a graduation ceremony.

Ethan Brown was due to graduate in December 2024 after studying geography at the University of Glasgow.

However, his family said that in September 2024, the 24-year-old had been informed by the university that he had not been awarded a grade for one course, meaning he would not be eligible to graduate with an Honours degree.

They said that as a result, he went on to take his own life on December 13, 2024 – the day he should have been graduating – and was found dead by his mother, Tracy Scott, early that morning.

An internal investigation following his death found that he was awarded the wrong grade due to an error by the university and should, in fact, have graduated with a 2:1 Honours degree.

A statement from lawyer Aamer Anwar stated that the posthumous award does not “dimmish the family’s serious concerns” regarding the handling of the former student’s case.

The Crown Office is re-examining the death, with the result determining if a discretionary FAI will take place.

The University of Glasgow has been referred to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, who deemed a “targeted peer review as necessary.

The report is due to be published in the coming months.

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