Family Vows Glasgow Uni "Will Be Held Accountable" After Student's Tragic Death

The family of Ethan Scott Brown, a 23-year-old student, has vowed to hold the University of Glasgow "to account" following his tragic death. Ethan took his own life on what should have been his graduation day, after being wrongly informed by the university that he would not be eligible to graduate.

Ethan, a geography student, was set to graduate in December 2024. However, in September of that year, the university wrongly told him he hadn't received a grade for a course, which meant he wouldn't be awarded an honours degree. This devastating news led to his death on December 13, 2024, the very day he was meant to celebrate his academic achievement.

His mother, Tracy Scott, discovered him in his bedroom that morning.

Tracy Scott, who later collected her son's degree posthumously, has since called for a fatal accident inquiry into his death.

The University of Glasgow has publicly expressed its "profound sorrow" and acknowledged its failings.

An internal inquiry conducted by the university uncovered "systemic" errors in the grading of Ethan's degree, confirming he had, in fact, secured enough marks for a 2:1 honours.

Critically, the inquiry also revealed that staff had failed to offer support to Ethan despite him having raised concerns about his mental health.

Recent developments include the family settling a civil court action with the university, though the sum remains undisclosed. This week, Ethan's family met with Scottish Education Secretary Màiri McAllan in Edinburgh. Following the meeting, their solicitor, Aamer Anwar, stated firmly that they had placed the University of Glasgow "on notice that they will be held to account."

Anwar accused the university of having "forgotten its soul" in its pursuit of becoming a global institution, asserting that their failures were "catastrophic and systemic." He highlighted a broader failure in their duty of care, not just to Ethan but potentially to many other students over the years. The minister has offered to arrange a meeting between the family and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), which is currently investigating the university.

The family also welcomed an apology from Ms. McAllan for a previous statement that implied Ethan's case was an isolated incident.

Anwar further criticized the university's governance process as "not fit for purpose."

A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow reiterated their profound apology and deepest sympathy, confirming they had self-referred to the Scottish Funding Council and fully accepted recommendations from a subsequent QAA review. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are also investigating the circumstances surrounding Ethan's death, promising to keep the family informed of any progress.

For anyone struggling with mental health, support is available. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or via email at jo@samaritans.org or jo@samarisans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988.

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