Strike action: information for students

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 some 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.

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.

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.

Formal progress reviews

Processes have been put in place to minimise disruption to the formal review process during the current marking and assessment boycott. In the unlikely event that a formal progress review cannot take place due to industrial action, postgraduate researchers will be permitted to progress to their next year of study and the review will take place as soon as possible.

Viva examinations

Processes have been put in place to minimise disruption to viva examinations during the current marking and assessment boycott. In the unlikely event that a viva examination cannot take place due to industrial action, the viva will be rescheduled for a later date.

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.