Advice for uni complaints

First and foremost, if you're thinking of getting an art masters (in anything other than fashion), DO NOT go to Nottingham Trent University.  It's a corrupt institution that focuses on enrollment numbers rather than educating.

I enrolled in a masters course and was even awarded a bursary for an international scholarship (I'm from California.)  While I absolutely loved my experience in the UK and the friends I made through uni, the institution itself is corrupt and hidden under miles of bureaucratic red tape. 

Long story short, my tutor was inept, as was our new course leader (he took over during the beginning of 3rd term since our original course leader became very ill and left.)  I along with a few cohort members were failed at the very last minute, having gotten absolutely no indication that our work was below standards during the year.  I decided to go through the referral process but was failed without explanation.  I went through the appeals process to have the marks re-examined but was rejected because I had been given incorrect instructions about the procedure (so technically it was rejected because I hadn't filed a form.)

This impacted my ability to stay in the country since I couldn't get a post-study work visa (despite having found a job whilst fighting through the appeals process.)  In addition to leaving behind my friends, I also had to leave my boyfriend (another student I met on the course from Nottingham.) 

To make matters worse, I am no the only one who's had to suffer through the uni's antics.  From the looks of things, I certainly won't be the last.  This past year I've heard countless stories from boyfriend about the appalling treatment he and his cohort received while trying to finish their course.  I've tried complaining to the administration but they won't hear anything of it.  I've tried collecting testimonials from my cohort and going to the press but no one is really interested.  I've submitted my complaint to the office of independent adjudicator for higher education - they're moving the case along but at this point I really don't have much hope since the uni has refined the art of lying for self-preservation. 

Long shot but does anyone have any suggestions? 

did you try the Student Advice Centre in the Students' Union?  They should be able to advocate for you.

http://www.trentstudents.org/studentadvice

Yup, tried that as well shortly after receiving my appeals rejection - no response    The student union seemed surprisingly unsympathetic; a couple friends of mine went for support on similar situations but came out with nothing.

Thanks for the suggestion though.  It's very much appreciated

Are you still in the UK? Have you thought about going to your local MP at their surgery?

Sadly I'm back in the states - my visa expired earlier this year and I didn't want to chance being denied entry in the future.

Hmmm, never thought of the MP route.  May be worth a chance since the boyfriend is from the area... and honestly he has a lot to complain about since the uni's treatment of his course was absolutely shocking.  I'll float the idea to him.

Thanks for the suggestion!

If your Students Union was doing its job properly, they would have referred you to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for students in higher education:

http://www.oiahe.org.uk/

The OIAHE was mentioned in my appeals rejection letter - I've filed a complaint and luckily my case has been handed to a case handler.  I'm still waiting to hear if any progress has been made.

i don't have any suggestions- just support and sympathy. I'm really sorry to hear what you're going through. My boyfriend graduated from NTU this year following a 4 year Internationl Business course, and has also had problems with his course tutors. They can use the excuse that they have foreign instructors (who speak somewhat broken english) since it's meant to be 'International' Business, but i really don't think it should affect a student's learning.

He also had issues with his dissertation tutor, who he was supposed to meet with at least twice. Well, they scheduled the 2 meetings, but the tutor got the dates wrong, and told him at the last minute that she could not meet with him past a specified date (which was something like 3 days before their scheduled meeting). Being dyslexic, it was of course a bit of a struggle for him. The tutor agreed to read over an emailed draft, but in the end didn't follow through. Luckily, he found another course tutor that he got on well with, and was able to discuss some of the issues he was having, and could rely on me to help sprt out the grammar side of things, but overall it was a very stressful experience.

Oof, my sympathies as well, for your boyfriend and you!  I was hoping NTU's problems were isolated to the school of art and design but apparently that isn't the case. 

I really have no idea where they get these tutors.  In our department we had 6 people referred during the 2nd and 3rd term each.  That's 12 people out of a department of 20... none of whom got any indication that our work was below standards from our tutors.

My boyfriend had it pretty rough too.  He was doing his course part-time.  At the start of his second year, his tutor decided to retire.  That's all fine and good except the person hired to replace was abysmally unprofessional.  He didn't show up until a couple months in to the academic year, which meant the new students were totally in the dark for a good portion of term 1 (which also meant that my boyfriend was saddled with ridiculous responsibilities like teaching his new cohort so they wouldn't feel so lost.)  This tutor was also incredibly difficult to get a hold of (once because he went on a ski holiday in the middle of term.)  And worse, he decided the responsibilities of handling grad students was too much and just gave up the duties... A MONTH before final assessment in June.  Luckily the department then assigned a tutor who was actually decent and gave a damn.  But all through it, the administration lied straight faced to the students.

If your boyfriend still needs to vent, let me know.  I've set up a blog for my colleagues to express their anger.  The more contributions, the merrier! 

If your boyfriend still needs to vent, let me know.  I've set up a blog for my colleagues to express their anger.  The more contributions, the merrier! 

I'll let him know, but he's very cautious about burning any bridges. While his specific course was run poorly, he's grateful that the university sponsored him to go to Beijing and Hong Kong over two different summers, and wouldn't want to be unappreciative.

Can you PM the link though?

Totally understandable!  Many of my friends/colleagues didn't want to burn bridges in case they needed references for the future, so their statements are kept anonymous.  I also had troubles picking some of my battles since the whole of NTU wasn't terrible - my original course leader was awesome but sadly couldn't help students after he left.  I have more of a bone to pick with the administration since they're responsible for much of the mess