We are calling for Queen Mary, School of Politics and International Relations to implement a no-detriment policy for their final year students. Our first year was interrupted by both strikes and covid-19. The strikes (followed by sudden ‘at home learning’) left first year students with no more than a semester's worth of quality learning. Our second year was completely online. We were unable to access in-person resources and did not have the same support that would have been offered to a student learning in real-time. Additionally, it is widely recognised that the impacts of Covid-19 and multiple ‘lock-downs’ have been detrimental to the mental and physical health of your students. Our third and final year was interrupted once again by weeks of strikes. 

Many of our dissertation advisors have been striking; some without giving any notice to their students - leaving us unable to prepare for the disruption accordingly. Many students are already stressed, however, the strikes have added even more stress and anxiety. This has been a very tough three years for all students and of course the staff of QMUL. While we appreciate and do not oppose the need to strike, we find it necessary that others recognise how these strikes have impacted our education and made it far more difficult for us as students. We ask that QMUL SPIR takes into account these unprecedented and extraordinary conditions and introduces a no-detriment policy for the final year SPIR students. 

For the reasons aforementioned, we ask that QMUL grant their third-year SPIR students a similar no-detriment policy to that the class of 2020-21 was given. This includes having a ‘zone of consideration’ of 1.5% meaning if a student has an average of 58.5 they will be awarded a 2:1, and students with an average of 68.5 a 1st. It is unacceptable to ignore the circumstantial effects placed on SPIR finalists - despite many of them being out of our control - it is indisputable that our student experience has been anything but conventional or fair. Please continue to show your support for our student cohort and ensure that we achieve results that are a just reflection of our capabilities.

Sincerely, 

QMUL SPIR Finalists