The family of Ethan Scott Brown, a 23-year-old geography student at the University of Glasgow, has accused the institution of a “systemic failure” after he took his own life following a grading error that wrongly informed him he would not graduate.
Ethan was due to graduate with a 2:1 Honours degree in December 2024, but in September that year he was told he had not received the necessary grade in one course and would therefore be ineligible to graduate. On the day of his scheduled graduation, 13 December 2024, he was found dead in his bedroom by his mother, Tracy Scott.
A subsequent investigation confirmed that Ethan had, in fact, achieved the required marks and should have graduated with honours. His family said the mistake went undetected by staff and multiple exam boards, only coming to light after his death.
Speaking at a press conference in Glasgow on Tuesday, Mrs Scott described her son as a “kind, caring young man” and condemned the university for failing him both academically and in terms of student welfare.
“Ethan left this world believing he had failed. The truth is, Ethan had successfully attained a 2:1 honours degree, despite the university repeatedly informing him he had been unsuccessful. They failed him, not only academically, but also to support him,” she said.
The family’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said they want to know if such errors would ever have been exposed had Ethan not died, and raised broader concerns about the well-being support offered to struggling students. Ethan had previously reported mental health issues to the university but, according to his family, was not offered support.
University Response
In a statement, the University of Glasgow admitted a “tragic error” and expressed “profound sorrow,” confirming that the miscalculation wrongly denied Ethan his degree. The institution said it has since carried out a full review of academic processes and student support systems, including new training for staff on exam boards.
The university maintains the error was an isolated incident and that no other students were affected.
Calls for Accountability
Ethan’s family has urged the Scottish government to ensure universities are held accountable for governance and student care. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth extended sympathies to the family, stressing the importance of institutions learning lessons from the tragedy to prevent similar cases in the future.
As the family considers legal options, the case has sparked national debate about university duty of care, mental health support, and academic accountability. For Ethan’s family, however, the issue remains deeply personal.
“We seek justice for Ethan in the hope that other students and their families do not have to experience the pain that my family and I will live with forever,” Mrs Scott said.
