A 23-year-old University of Glasgow student, Ethan Scott Brown, died by suicide on his scheduled graduation day, 13 December 2024, after the university erroneously informed him he lacked the credits to graduate. The institution later admitted this “tragic” mistake in an internal report, offering a heartfelt apology. The error, undetected by multiple academic reviews, devastated Ethan’s confidence and plans.
Ethan’s family revealed the university’s mistake shattered his belief in himself, as he was wrongly told he failed to earn a 2:1 Honours degree. The university’s internal investigation confirmed errors in calculating his degree outcome and a failure to refer him to support services despite his disclosed mental health struggles. The family learned the truth only after his death.
On 13 December, the day Ethan should have been celebrating his graduation, his mother, Tracy Scott, found him at their Coatbridge home. She later shared, “Ethan left this world believing he had failed.” The university’s review, conducted by a retired professor, confirmed the error should have been caught during exam board processes.
At a Glasgow press conference, Tracy described Ethan as a kind, loved young man whose mental anguish was compounded by the university’s oversight. She emphasized that Ethan had, in fact, earned his degree, but the university’s repeated errors led him to believe otherwise. “They failed him,” she stated.
The university acknowledged shortcomings in communication and academic processes, noting Ethan was not referred to support services despite raising wellbeing concerns. It insists the error was isolated, having reviewed all records, and has committed to revising staff training and academic policies to prevent future mistakes.
Ethan’s family, represented by solicitor Aamer Anwar, questions how such an error passed multiple exam boards undetected. They seek clarity on whether systemic issues exist and if other students might have been affected. Anwar stressed the family’s belief that Ethan’s death was linked to the university’s failures.
Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth expressed condolences and urged universities and the Scottish Funding Council to learn from this tragedy. The family demands robust governance to ensure no student faces similar distress due to administrative errors, emphasizing a clear duty of care.
The timeline reveals a series of missed opportunities. In September 2024, Ethan was told he hadn’t earned a course grade, barring him from graduating. Despite his reported mental health struggles, no support was offered. After his death, the family’s January inquiries prompted the university’s investigation and apology in February.
Ethan, a geography student, was proud of his university place. His mother described his radiant smile and the joy his acceptance brought the family. The family continues to seek justice, hoping to spare others their pain, as Tracy vowed to keep fighting for accountability.
The case highlights broader concerns about university support systems. Recent UK cases, like those at Bristol and Exeter, have exposed gaps in mental health support for students in crisis. Ethan’s story underscores how academic errors, combined with inadequate welfare responses, can have catastrophic consequences.
Media coverage has amplified the family’s call for independent oversight of degree calculations and better pastoral care. While the university insists the error was unique, the family questions whether other cases might remain hidden without their persistent advocacy, pushing for systemic reforms to protect future students.