To complain about my MSc

[LilaThePink]

I think I need to complain about the way my master's degree is being handled, but I'm feeling a bit anxious about it, and to be honest I don't know the best way, so any advice would be helpful.

I signed up for a 3 year PT MSc pre pandemic. I also work FT. It was supposed to be on site, over 4 weekends a year with 12 weeks between modules.

Because covid it went fully online from the start in September. We have just been informed it will now be fully online for the next 2 years. This is absolutely not what I wanted and I could have started a 2 year PT online course and been done sooner. I am regretting this.

There has been no timetable all year. Seminars have been announced with a week's notice for random weekday evenings. Almost all lectures are pre recorded to watch in our own time. There have been 3-4 online workshops in the evenings, some of which I've not got to as I've had to work. The ones I have attended have been hard going and exhausting. Tbh the last thing anyone wants to do after a long shift or 7 hours of Teams meetings is a zoom workshop.

We asked for the possibility of weekend work like we planned and now there is a Saturday workshop planned, 5 hours of zoom on a Saturday mid July, when our modules should have ended in June. I'm going to be away camping.

Also, I have an assignment handed in in Feb that's still not been marked and I emailed the tutors a few times and have not had a response for over a week.

Our last assignment is due end of July and I don't have the title or any details yet.

I feel let down, fed up, out of pocket for £1000s, and I don't really know what to do. My handed in work has been far from its best as it's been rushed and stressful and not enjoyable at all. I have passed the modules, but I'm normally a straight A student, and I'm getting Cs. I'm so disappointed.

AIBU to complain, and how would I go about it? It's a proper, good, old university and this stressful shambles is the last thing I would have expected from them. My main worry is that if I complain I'll get marked even harder and fail. I'd actually like some money back, as I'm self funding and I absolutely have not received what I'm paying for.

AIBU?

And it's not a students reps job to deal with complaints anyway ..... there are university staff who will deal with formal complaints.

Student reps are there to represent the student body and can raise concerns formally and informally but they aren't responsible for progressing a complaint.

Where I work, reps often bring these concerns to the table and often things can be resolved before the complaint stage and crucially improve the situation.

As with any grievance, no one can help and work toward a resolution without knowing the exact issue. I'm sure they know they're not delivering the best experience, but student representatives can help illustrate the strength of feeling, who it's affecting and once that's minuted, it can be used by the complaints department to back your complaint.

Meetings are minuted and the university has quality processes in place to ensure that concerns raised are met with a response and acted on.

At no point did I say that she should become a rep, or the rep takes the complaint forward. But I did suggest that engaging the reps is good idea to help voice concerns and improve your experience during your studies. Especially if you're concerned about reprisals.

I'd suggest you put your OP complaints into a Google doc and share with the others on your course, asking them to add / edit / cosign. That way you avoid fining yourself as scribe for what others might chip in.

Btw, seminars arranged at short notice or outside of the previously agreed timetable ought to be recorded. Add that to your list if they're not.

In answer to one of your questions, no complaining will not mean you are punished by being marked down. Work is often double marked and is definitely moderated twice so it is checked. If your grades suddenly drop after complaining then you can ask that it is looked at-- that would be a real red flag if one of your grades was suddenly much lower etc. Tutors know all this and they wouldnt set themselves up for bother by marking your lower as revenge, no matter if they resent you.

I work in HE and see this all the time-- even when complaints are blatently unfair and unrealistic, and the tutors think the complainer is a horrid little trouble-stirrer, no one ever gets marked down cos of it so don't worry.

You might find seminars can't be recorded, we certainly don't.

@Soverymuchfruit

I'd suggest you put your OP complaints into a Google doc and share with the others on your course, asking them to add / edit / cosign. That way you avoid fining yourself as scribe for what others might chip in.

Done this - great idea - thanks so much