Edinburgh University students call for 'no detriment' policy to be reinstated for final year students

Final year students at the University of Edinburgh have launched a petition to urge the higher education facility to reinstate a ‘no detriment’ policy that was previously instated for 2020 graduates.

An online petition launched on Monday has amassed more than 2,200 signatures in less than 24 hours.

In March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic and the uncertainty for students that came with lockdown the university launched a ‘help not hinder’ policy, meaning that remaining exams and coursework that students had to complete at home would be assessed on a non-detrimental basis.

It ensured that those students who were due to graduate in 2020 would see their academic year average the same as, or higher than, the average they had attained through assessment that had already been undertaken due to the unprecedented circumstances.

However, fourth year undergraduate students in the academic year 2020/21 have already faced a semester of learning online with face-to-face teaching only in the rarest of instances.

The student who created the online petition, ‘J Gray’, wrote: “These are some of the toughest conditions final year students have ever had to endure. And yet, somehow, we are still expected to perform as if the world isn’t falling apart around us.

“The University has thus far failed to equip these students with a ‘no detriment’ policy, despite them having to deal with far more disruption to their studies than in early 2020. These students deserve the same level of protection that the Class of 2020 were afforded, if not more, and so we are calling for the ‘no detriment’ policy to be reinstated.

The petition has racked up more than 2000 signatures

“We appreciate the University is doing all it can to help us, but a safety net is an absolute necessity at this point to protect students’ grades, mental health and trust in our educational provider.”

Anna van Hasselt, who signed the petition, wrote: “We deserve the same treatment as 2020 graduates, especially seeing as we did not receive any compensation or adjustment of uni fees.”

Julia Marques da Silva added: “UoE honors students have been deeply affected by the COVID and the university was unable to give students adequate support to ensure the same educational quality that the university would provide if the classes were in person.”

Mia Nicole Davies wrote: “The lack of a no detriment policy this year wrongly assumes that because the University has had some months to prepare and adapt for the 20-21 academic year, Covid no longer affects the lives of students. In reality, we are still being educated and trying to survive during a pandemic even with the (useful and appreciated) adaptations the University has made.”

Christian Leggatt added: “I was not unable to benefit from the no detriment policy in my 3rd year as I was studying away.“I think it is fair to reinstate this policy for this year especially as it is the first time taking 24 hour exams for some people.”

The University of Edinburgh have been contacted for comment.

To petition can be viewed on the Change.org website.

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