Media reports in Singapore have drawn attention to the marking boycott across universities in the UK and how this has affected Singaporean students. The media in Malaysia has also picked up on these reports from Singapore.
With staff at 145 UK institutions who are members of the University and College Union refusing to mark university exams and assessments in a dispute over pay and working conditions, students are worried that delays in receiving their results and degree classifications would affect their graduation and subsequent employment outcomes.
Impact on the UK sector?
The news could rattle prospective students from Singapore (as well as other international students) and their parents, especially those who are already worried about cost-of-living challenges in the UK and those who may already be concerned about upcoming hikes in international student visa fees and immigration health surcharges.
While UCAS application figures from Singapore (June 2023 cycle) showed a healthy 6 per cent increase compared to last year, it will be in these critical few months where students will make the final decision on whether to enrol at a UK institution or not. Some that apply to UCAS may not eventually study in the UK. Universities would do well to embark on concerted efforts to reassure students about steps taken to support current students during this boycott and to emphasise why they should continue to choose the UK as their study destination.
Source: Straits Times, 11 July 2023; Singaporean university students in UK hit by marking boycott; https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/they-sat-exams-but-have-no-marks…