Ethan Scott Brown, a 23-year-old geography student at the University of Glasgow, died by suicide on 13 December 2024, the day he was scheduled to graduate. His family has stated that the university informed him in September that year that he had not received a grade for one course, making him ineligible for an honours degree. The family attributes his death directly to this notification.
Following an internal inquiry, the university determined that significant errors had occurred in the assessment process. The investigation found systemic problems in how Brown’s degree was graded and confirmed he had achieved sufficient marks for a 2:1 honours degree. Additionally, the inquiry revealed that although Brown had communicated concerns about his mental health to university staff, they did not provide appropriate support.
A civil settlement between the family and the university was reported earlier this week, though the settlement amount remains undisclosed. The family’s legal representative, Aamer Anwar, subsequently met with Scottish education secretary Màiri McAllan to discuss the case. During this meeting, Anwar stated that the family had formally notified the university it would face accountability, characterizing the institution’s failures as “catastrophic and systemic” that extended beyond Brown’s case to affect other students.
The university has issued formal apologies and indicated it self-referred to the Scottish Funding Council following the internal investigation. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education conducted a subsequent targeted peer review and issued recommendations, which the university states it is implementing. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service continues to investigate the circumstances of Brown’s death.
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