Uni of Edinburgh not marking dissertations/final pieces of work - anyone else's DC affected?

[Iliketulips]

DD heard this afternoon that her dissertation and final pieces of work are not to be marked by Uni of Edinburgh. She is absolutely devastated right now as she wanted her true degree result and feedback on hours of work. She feels her most recent work is the best, so will never know if she could have got her grade up. Moving forward she was seriously considering studying a masters abroad abroad and also working abroad, but now uncertain if that's possible as she thinks they'll wanted an athenticated degree.

Can I ask advice for my DD? She was waiting for 3rd year 2nd semester results yesterday - 3 modules 25% of her final degree class. Two compulsory modules were fully marked however one optional one was discounted due to strike disruption so she was awarded just a pass and credits on aggregate (mid term was marked but it is discounted also). DD thinks module coordinator has left uni. DD is currently sitting between degree classes. She says she is not bothered that module has been discounted as it would have unlikely have lifted her into next class plus she still has another year to go.

Would you push for a mark? Course was affected by strikes days but no more than other ones.

So the discounted module won't count towards her final degree - they'll take an average of the marked modules? Assuming she did ok in the compulsory modules I think I'd leave it there.

@HowManySunflowers yes that's right degree class will be average of marked modules. DD agrees with you.

I was thinking that since DD doesn't think she has done badly in this module (good midterm and her other marks range by +/- 5% around the class boundary) that its worth pushing for a mark. It's a niche but important area so if it were me I'd want a mark just in case this is area she looks for work in. Actually its probably just me as I couldn't bear having done all the readings and essays for them to be ignored. DD more chill about doing things for just for the knowledge.

Hi, @SandyIrving This is most annoying and irresponsible but I don’t see what pushing will accomplish. It is impossible to mark work for DD without marking work for her entire cohort, as raw marks are externally assessed and normalised.

Without a course co-ordinator - if the rumour is true, and it ought to be obvious to students whether this person is around, though they could be absent for other reasons - it is unlikely that anyone has the time or expertise to take on thus fearsome job right now. Possibly when the course is next offered, if it is essentially the same and if it is thought that DD’s cohort need their marks, the new co-ordinator could organise the marking of the old work with the new. But there will be enough inevitable differences with the new co-ordinator’s way of doing and valuing things that DD’s cohort will likely be disadvantaged. For that reason they may be best off letting it drop.

I know this is frustrating.

How frustrating; unfortunately I agree with @poetryandwine that there isn’t much advantage in pushing. I do think Edinburgh is being really poor in their handling by of students whose hard work has not been marked (still!) because of the strike. They’re acting as if it’s fine just to get the end (degree) result - but of course everything a student has written and submitted in time should be marked! My son was eventually given his degree result months late but several papers remain unmarked now, six months after he submitted them, and it looks as if it may stay that way - what message does that send about the value of an Edinburgh degree when they can turn on and off their assessment criteria?

its also a bit galling that there’s still absolutely no sign of any financial compensation, unlike many English universities with students in similar positions. The university must have saved so much by not paying academics - it feels as though they’re all right Jack, so why bother about the students ….

SandyIrving - the problem is she doesn't really know how well she did in that module. DD was convinced she'd done really well in one of hers, ended up getting 55%. The one she did within the 48 hour window of hearing about the marking boycott, which she often did in tears and had no motivation for, she got 75%.

If you're DD goes for a job relating to that module, she can explain what's happened and offer to let them have a copy of her transcript for that module. That way they can judge for themselves.

DD was affected by the marking boycott and one employer asked for two pieces of work completed in her degree so he could work out for himself what she's was capable of and how she put things across.

I came on here so say we now have good news. DD received her degree classification on Monday - it's a 2.1. Very close to a First which is a bit frustrating but she's really pleased as it's now acknowledged what she's capable of. She hasn't got feedback on every piece of work yet, but no doubt that will follow.

@Lottie4 True. She's not a great judge of how she has done. Plus the course in particular although from same school is from a different department so likely she will have performed less well.

Excellent results for your DD.

its also a bit galling that there’s still absolutely no sign of any financial compensation, unlike many English universities with students in similar positions

I wasn't aware of any universities giving financial compensation, whether in England or elsewhere in the UK.

Edinburgh did offer £300 or so each of the last 2 years (learning support fund) but you had to apply (they weren't fastidious at checking you actually were using for the purposes you claimed).