Strike action: information for students

Yes, the University will remain open on strike days. It's our aim that all our campus spaces remain open and that activities and services run as normal. However, there will be some disruption.

It is our priority that shared spaces and facilities remain open for students to visit and use as normal. We will do our best to let you know about any changes.

It is likely that teaching will be affected by the strike action. On strike days, lecturers and other members of University staff may choose not to work, which could lead to the cancellation of lectures, seminars, 1-2-1s and supervised research.

Your School will work hard to minimise disruption and, wherever possible, to let you know of any cancelled teaching in advance – however, it may not always be possible to inform you in advance, as members of UCU do not have to advise the University of their specific plans to take strike action ahead of doing so.

Lecturers who take strike action may not contact you as expected or respond to emails during this time.

Your School will do its best to let you know in advance if any of your teaching is affected, although this may not always be possible.

We’ll encourage staff to make recordings or teaching materials available if and when teaching is disrupted or cancelled.

Please speak to the relevant member of teaching staff to ask if they can make such materials available.

In some cases, teaching and support cancelled due to the strike may be rescheduled. If this applies to your course, your School will be in touch when they have more information. We know that colleagues taking part in strike action will do what they can to ensure that your intended learning outcomes continue to be met. 

We’ll do everything we can to minimise disruption to students during the strike action, and will try to offer suitable alternatives to cancelled teaching or other activities. We know that colleagues taking part in strike action will do what they can to ensure that your intended learning outcomes are still met.

We’ll also work to suitably address any individual concerns or issues caused by the strike action. We believe that taking practical action of this kind is the appropriate way to address students’ concerns. 

Your Student route visa (formerly Tier 4 visa) status will not be affected by strike action, but it’s important you continue to attend all scheduled teaching and study sessions, submit coursework and anything else that has been identified as an engagement point, unless told otherwise. 

Your School will be able to advise whether to continue with your research sessions if supervision is disrupted. Please get permission from your supervisor to carry on with your research in their absence and continue to follow the usual health and safety procedures during your research sessions.

If your viva or annual progression review meeting is scheduled during the strike action, you should contact your supervisor to confirm whether it will go ahead.

You may not find out until the day so, in the meantime, assume that it will take place and submit your thesis on time.

The University will ensure that no employees (including GTAs) are negatively impacted financially as a result of strike action where teaching, or other paid activity, is cancelled.

If you are getting ready to sit exams or have assessment deadlines, continue to prepare for and attend these. Your School will inform you of any changes to your schedule, but because they may not find out about these until the day, it’s important you prepare as normal.

Your School will keep you clearly informed of what will happen around assessments that are intended to cover topics that have not yet been taught. Faculties can draw on a range of mitigations to ensure you are not disadvantaged, while still protecting the quality of your award and adhering to the standards expected for our accredited awards with professional and/or regulatory bodies.

If you are a postgraduate research student with a viva or annual progression review meeting scheduled during the strike action, contact your supervisor to confirm whether it will go ahead. You should continue on the assumption that it will take place and submit your thesis on time, unless you are told otherwise.

Please submit all projects and coursework by the set deadline. Normal penalties will apply if your work is late or not submitted, even if there is strike action that day.

We’ll do our best to continue to return feedback by the agreed deadlines and have asked Schools to prioritise exam and assessment activities over other work. However, there may be a delay in receiving some of the feedback you're expecting.

If your assessment has been affected by the strike, this will be taken into account when exams and assessments for the affected units are marked. Our priority is to ensure you are treated fairly.

Schools will provide examination boards with information of any disruption and this will be taken into account when reviewing marks.

A picket line is made up of a group of up to six union members – although it can be one member of staff alone – outside of a place of work. They may hand out posters or leaflets that provide information on their decision to strike, or badges for people to wear in support.

Yes – while some people choose not to cross picket lines to show solidarity with those on strike, this is your personal choice. If you miss a scheduled lecture due to not crossing a picket line, you will be marked as absent.

Staff on picket lines are expected to be peaceful and respectful of students and staff who are not on strike. You will not be prevented from crossing a picket line, and should not be made to feel uncomfortable for doing so.

If you have experienced a problem relating to teaching during the strike and it's not been possible to resolve this with your School, you can get support from the Students’ Union’s free and impartial advice service. To make a complaint, please follow the University’s complaints procedure.