University Settles With Family of Student Who Died by Suicide After Academic Error

The University of Glasgow has settled a civil court action with the family of Ethan Brown, a 23-year-old student who died by suicide on December 13, 2024, the day he was due to graduate. Brown had been studying geography and was informed in September 2024 that he had not been awarded a grade for one course, rendering him ineligible for an honours degree.

His family stated that following this news, Brown took his own life. His mother, Tracy Scott, found him in his bedroom that morning. Scott, who later accepted her son's degree posthumously, has advocated for a fatal accident inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family confirmed the settlement through their solicitor, Aamer Anwar, in a statement released on Tuesday. The statement noted that it was only after the family challenged the university's handling of Brown's academic results that an internal investigation revealed he had been incorrectly graded. The investigation found that Brown should have received a 2:1 honours degree, and this error had gone undetected by university staff, two internal examination boards, and an external examination board.

"The family were devastated to learn the mistake had passed through multiple levels of the university’s assessment and examination process without being detected," the statement read. "Despite Ethan disclosing concerns about his mental health, he was not provided with appropriate support by the university that may have saved his life."

The family is scheduled to meet with Holyrood Education Secretary Mairi McAllan. While the settlement amount has not been disclosed, the family emphasized their ongoing pursuit of "truth and accountability" regarding Brown's death.

"The family continue to call for a full and transparent investigation into the university’s academic processes, decision-making and student welfare procedures, or it is only a matter of time before another family experiences the same tragic loss," the statement continued.

An investigation launched after Brown's death uncovered a series of administrative errors. At the graduation ceremony, the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Schofield, acknowledged that Mr. Brown "should have been here to collect the honours degree that he earned."

A University of Glasgow spokesperson expressed profound sorrow for Ethan Brown's death and the distress caused to his family. "We repeat our sincere apology as well as our deepest sympathy," the spokesperson said. "Following an internal investigation into assessment regulations, the university self-referred to the Scottish Funding Council. The quality assurance agency subsequently carried out a targeted peer review, which resulted in a series of recommendations. The university fully accepted the recommendations and is on track to implement them."

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