Stirling students expecting a March graduation have had their plans cancelled by a university announcement saying the ceremony will not be happening.
On October 21, the impacted students received an email inviting them to graduate in June or in absentia.
There was no apology or mention of the prospective March graduation.
The University has been running March graduations since 2022, largely for master’s degree students who have a January to December academic year.
The Human Rights and Diplomacy course, taught in collaboration with the United Nations, is one of the courses impacted.
62 per cent of students on the course are currently overseas completing internships with the UN or similar institutions.
Around 50 per cent of the course made up of international students.
Many planned to return to Scotland at the end of year once their internship concluded, spending a few weeks in the country and leaving after graduation.
However, a June graduation means students will need to return to their home countries, booking more flights to and from Scotland which they have said is a huge financial pressure.
Some students had already begun planning their graduation trips, under the assumption their ceremony would be happening in March in line with previous years.
Similarly, students have said they will be entering employment at that time and likely will not be able to organise time off from work to graduate in June.
Tash Miller, the Students’ Union President from 2022 to 2023, is one of the impacted students.
Overall, Tash has spent over £60,000 studying her undergraduate and master’s at the University of Stirling.
Speaking to Brig, she said the decision felt like “a slap in the face”.
“We are being ignored, students are distressed… A lot of money has been spent, plans have been made to return in March to graduate with our friends and family.
“These changes mean a lot of us won’t get to graduate.
“It hurts… it feels like a slap in the face.”
Tash said she understands the University is facing a financial crisis, as seen with the recent voluntary severance scheme where 175 staff left the institution. However, the real upset with the cancelled graduation is the lack of understanding from the University.
Tash said: “I’ve sat in these rooms and heard so many times that ‘we’re an institution for students, we are not like the others’.
“But this is a decision that very much feels like they are not for the students.
“There was no understanding of the impact this will have on us.”
Tash said her class representatives have made petitions and contacted the university and the department to find a resolution.
So far, they have only received an official acknowledgement.
Tash emphasised her cohort is open to a range of solutions— they just need the University to communicate with them.
Tash continued: “There is a lack of sympathy.
“We just want a conversation to find a solution that is mutually beneficial, but they won’t engage.”
Mollie Black, one of two class representatives for MSc Human Rights and Diplomacy, said: “The decision to suspend Spring graduations came as a real shock, particularly as there had not even been a whisper of of any changes being made for the entire 10 months we have been at the university full-time. The staff on our course were not even informed.
“None of us are naive to the struggles faced by Scottish universities in our current climate, and we are sympathetic to the cuts which have to be made, but I don’t think there is any excuse to leave students out of the conversation.
“I think that’s the most deflating part – I was attracted to this university because it truly seems to value its students. I am disappointed to say that I am not leaving with that same opinion.”
Beatrice Cimmino, the other representative, said: “My co-representative and I tried to contact the University to have a meeting regarding Graduation, to express our grievances and report the opinions and grievances from our colleagues. However, we have been met with silence.
“We found this unprofessionalism disheartening, in respect to our investments and the good memories of our time in Stirling.
“We remain committed to support our cohort and open to dialogue with university to ensure that our grievances are heard.
“We are aware that re-instating a March graduation would be impossible but would like to still express our voices and ensure that such mistreatment will not be faced by future students and graduates.
A spokesperson from The University of Stirling said: “The University has recently reviewed its graduation schedule and taken the decision to revert to a model where a set of ceremonies is held in summer and another in winter.
“This was our long-established, standard approach before additional spring dates were introduced in 2022.
“Demand for spring graduation has declined in recent years and running this additional set of dates for a small cohort is no longer viable.
“Students who complete their studies late this year or in early 2026 will be invited to celebrate their achievements at a graduation ceremony in 2026.
“This decision will not adversely affect graduating students, who are eligible to receive their graduation certificates and accompanying documentation in the existing timeframe – enabling them to pursue further study or employment opportunities.
“Full details have been shared with those students directly.”
Featured image credit: University of Stirling
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