A promising geography student died on the day he should have been celebrating his graduation, after being incorrectly told he would not qualify for an honours degree. Ethan Scott Brown, 23, was found dead in his bedroom on 13 December 2024 by his mother, Tracy Scott. His family say the university’s error pushed him to take his own life, and they are demanding a full investigation into what went wrong.
A Tragic Miscommunication
In September 2024, while preparing for his final semester, Ethan was informed by the University of Glasgow that he had not been awarded a grade for one of his geography courses. The notification meant, according to the university at the time, that he would be ineligible to graduate with an honours classification in December. His mother, Tracy Scott, later said the news devastated him. “He believed his future had been erased overnight,” she recalled in a statement to the press.
The family maintains that Ethan had actually earned enough marks for a 2:1 honours degree. An internal review conducted after his death confirmed this, finding “systemic” errors in the way his assessments had been recorded and graded.
Systemic Failures Uncovered
The university’s own inquiry highlighted a pattern of mistakes that went beyond Ethan’s case. It noted that, although Ethan had expressed concerns about his mental health to staff, no appropriate support was offered. The review concluded that the failures were not isolated but reflected deeper problems in the institution’s assessment and pastoral care systems.
Aamer Anwar, the family’s solicitor, summed up the findings starkly: “Their failures were catastrophic and systemic. They failed not just in their duty of care to Ethan, but to many other students over the years.” He added that the university’s governance process was “not fit for purpose.”
Family Seeks Accountability
Following Ethan’s death, Tracy Scott collected his degree posthumously and called for a fatal accident inquiry. The family also pursued a civil action against the university, which was settled on undisclosed terms.
On Wednesday 7 October 2026, Tracy Scott met with Scotland’s education secretary, Màiri McAllan, at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh. After the meeting, Mr Anwar said they had placed “the University of Glasgow on notice that they will be held to account.” He noted that the minister had offered to ask the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) to meet with the family.
The family welcomed the secretary’s apology for a previous statement made in September 2025, which had suggested Ethan’s situation was an isolated incident. “The family welcomed the apology by Ms McAllan for her predecessor’s statement in September 2025 which implied an acceptance of the university’s position that Ethan’s case was an isolated incident,” Mr Anwar reported.
Institutional Response and Ongoing Inquiry
A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow expressed deep regret: “The university is profoundly sorry that Ethan tragically took his own life and fully understands the deep distress this has caused his family. We repeat our sincere apology as well as our deepest sympathy.”
The institution said it had self‑referred to the Scottish Funding Council after an internal investigation into assessment regulations. The QAA then carried out a targeted peer review, producing a series of recommendations that the university has accepted and is working to implement.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Ethan’s death, promising to keep the family informed of any developments.
Why it Matters
This case exposes how administrative oversights in higher education can have devastating, life‑ending consequences when they intersect with inadequate mental‑health support. It underscores the necessity for universities to treat assessment accuracy and student wellbeing as inseparable responsibilities, not separate bureaucratic tasks. Holding institutions accountable for systemic failures is essential to prevent further tragedies and to restore trust in the promise of higher education as a safe, supportive pathway to success.
