Graduate sues Oxford University for £1m over his failure to get a first

An Oxford graduate is suing the university for 1m claiming the appallingly bad and boring teaching cost him a first-class degree and prevented him from having a successful career. Faiz Siddiqui who studied modern history at Brasenose College told the high court he believes he would have had a career as an international commercial lawyer if he had been awarded a first rather than the 2:1 he achieved 16 years ago. If he wins the case could open the floodgates to similar claims from students complaining about inadequate teaching unsuitable accommodation and poor decisions. Siddiqui 38 who trained as a solicitor after university says his life and career have been blighted by his failure to obtain a first when he graduated in June 2000. He said he underachieved in a course on Indian imperial history during his degree because of negligent teaching which pulled down his overall grade. He is bringing a loss of earnings claim of at least 1m against the chancellor masters and scholars of Oxford University which is seeking to have the claim struck out. According to a report in the Sunday Times Siddiqui suffers from insomnia and depression which his barrister Roger Mallalieu puts down to his unexpected failure to gain a first. Mallalieu told the high court that his client s lesser grade denied him the chance of becoming a high-flying commercial barrister . Oxford University argues that the claim is baseless and should be struck out because of the number of years that have passed since Siddiqui graduated. The university admitted it had difficulties running the module in the year Siddiqui graduated because half of the teaching staff responsible for Asian history were on sabbatical leave at the same time. Siddiqui has said the standard of tuition he received from Dr David Washbrook declined as a result of the intolerable pressure the historian was placed under. In the academic year 1999-2000 four of the seven faculty staff were on sabbaticals and the court heard from Siddiqui s barrister that it was a clear and undisputed fact that the university knew of the situation in advance. He told the judge that of the 15 students who received the same teaching and sat the same exam as Siddiqui 13 received their lowest or joint lowest mark in the subject. Mallalieu told the court: This is a large percentage who got their lowest mark in the specialist subject papers. There is a statistical anomaly that matches our case that there was a specific problem with the teaching in this year having a knock-on effect on the performance of students. He added: The standard of teaching was objectively unacceptable. A judgment is expected later this month and Siddiqui s legal team claimed he was only one of a number of students who no doubt have proper cause for complaint against the university in relation to this matter . An Oxford graduate is suing the university for 1 million claiming the appallingly bad tuition cost him a first-class degree and prevented him from having a successful career. Faiz Siddiqui told the High Court he believes he would have had a career as an international commercial lawyer if he had been awarded a 1st class degree rather than the 2:1 he achieved 16 years ago. The trained solicitor suffers from depression and insomnia which he links to examination results and has led to an inability to hold down a job for a significant period of time. Read more Oxford University students called inbred by ex-Ukip candidate How to answer Oxford University s most difficult interview questions Could you get into Oxford? Take the quiz Oxford University vice-chancellor says Prevent strategy wrong-headed Mr Siddiqui studied modern history at Brasenose College and claims he would have got a better grade if it wasn t for negligent teaching on Indian imperial history in his final year. Oxford University is looking to have his loss of earnings claim struck down the Times reported. Mr Siddiqui claims that during his final year four of the seven staff who taught the Indian imperial history course were on sabbatical leave leading to a shortage of tutors. UK news in pictures 19 show all UK news in pictures 1/19 The Palm House is illuminated as Kew Gardens launch their festive illuminated trail Getty 2/19 Wolfgang Buttress Hive Installation is illuminated as Kew Gardens launch their festive illuminated trail Getty 3/19 The Palm House is illuminated as Kew Gardens launch their festive illuminated trail in London England. 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Oxford University says the case is baseless and should be struck out because a number of years have passed since Mr Siddiqui graduated. The university also noted they made special allowance for Mr Siddiqui in some of his papers for hay fever. Eight questions you could face in an Oxford University interview A judgment is expected later this month. More about: Oxford University Graduate court case Reuse content An Oxford student has died at a French ski resort after a night out drinking. Matt Smith a 22-year-old history student at St John s College had been out at a party during a Cambridge and Oxford Varsity ski trip to Val Thorens. A police report confirmed that Mr Smith had been found unconscious in his room by friends early on Sunday morning. Read more German universities to reintroduce tuition fees for non-EU students Emergency services were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene having suffered a suspected cardiac arrest. An investigation is currently being carried out by police in nearby Albertville and an autopsy is to be held in the coming week.. Mr Smith who was in his third year reading history had recently completed a three-month internship as a junior press officer at Sotheby s auction house. He had worked at the resort in previous years The Times reported and was a qualified snowboard instructor. After arriving at the Alpine resort on Saturday afternoon for the week-long event he headed straight out to a party it was reported. Student news in pictures 34 show all Student news in pictures 1/34 South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye EPA 2/34 South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul South Korea. The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye EPA 3/34 Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila Philippine EPA 4/34 Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van EPA 5/34 A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students 6/34 A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading We are missing 43 during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico City. A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students AP 7/34 Miguel Perez an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartÌnez Oncological Hospital in San Juan Puerto Rico. Once they complete their general surgery training many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island 8/34 Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn. There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses according to admissions service UCAS. PA wire 9/34 University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas Venezuela. 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The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action AP 14/34 Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school s strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use AP 15/34 Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law after a call by trade unions in Murcia Spain EPA 16/34 South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education where the finance minister was giving a budget speech AP 17/34 Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town South Africa Reuters 18/34 South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town South Africa AP 19/34 A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town South Africa AP 20/34 An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan s medium term budget speech in Cape Town South Africa Reuters 21/34 Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011 show banners that say victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court in Sendai. A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay 13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami Getty 22/34 A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the school s front gate in Seoul South Korea EPA 23/34 Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union in Madrid against university entry exams Getty 24/34 Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty 25/34 Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty 26/34 Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty 27/34 Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok Thailand EPA 28/34 Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty 29/34 A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty 30/34 St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator s Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend PA wire 31/34 St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator s Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend an annual tradition where student parents inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as children as part of a mentoring scheme PA wire 32/34 Students at the Cuba s National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana Cuba Reuters 33/34 Students at the Cuba s National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana Cuba Reuters 34/34 Students at the Cuba s National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana Cuba Reuters A spokesman from NUCO Travel Ltd the travel company hosting the students said: Sadly one of our passengers passed away on Sunday 4th December 2016. At this time to respect their family s and friend s privacy we will not be commenting further. Val Thorens is currently hosting the Oxford-Cambridge Varsity ski trip the largest student snow sports event in the world. Thousands of students from both universities are currently at the resort with an estimated 15 per cent of Oxford students in attendance. The event was first held in 1922 and has been criticised by Oxford college deans for its reputation of heavy drinking. In 2011 tour operator Scott Dunn sponsored the student event offering prizes for the so-called Valley Rally in which student societies compete in a series of https://cgcookie.com/u/dreamofteeths/ challenges. Read more Irish student facing death sentence begs to be buried back home Students befriend homeless man who turns out to be escaped rapist Student accused of face-biting cannibal attack wasn t on drugs The company pulled out from future involvement however condemning the students for the inappropriate behaviour seen during the resort parties. A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: We are supporting the family of a British national who died in France on 4 December. We are in contact with the local authorities. A spokesman for St John s College Oxford said: We would like to express our deep sadness at the tragic death and send our condolences to his family and friends. More about: Oxford St John s College Val Thorens Varsity ski Skiing Reuse content Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing!Could not subscribe try again laterInvalid EmailA young skier has been found dead after the first night of an Oxford and https://growthhackers.com/members/linuxlivecoms Cambridge universities ski trip to the French Alps. Oxford student Matt Smith 22 had been taking part in a drinks party at a so-called Varsity event notorious for heavy alcohol consumption. Police officers found Mr Smith unconscious in a holiday flat at the upmarket Val Thorens the highest ski resort in Europe on Sunday morning. Friends called emergency services after they were unable to revive him but they too were unable to save the young man. It was reported that he died after suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest. Matt Smith 22 had been taking part in a drinks party at a so-called Varsity event notorious for heavy alcohol consumption (Photo: facebook) Further enquires revealed that he had arrived by coach with a party of friends from the UK on Saturday and they had immediately gone out drinking. His brother Harry wrote on Facebook: I love you so much Matt. Rest well above the clouds. One friend wrote on Facebook: Still don t believe it he was taken far too soon. We all thought he was invincible. I ll always love you Matt and I hope you re resting better now. You ll forever be one of my oldest and greatest friends. Mr Smith was a student at St John s College and was studying history. According to his LinkedIn profile he was a qualified snowboard instructor was secretary of the university s ski and snowboard club and played rugby for the first XV as well as being a member of the college s first VIII rowing team. In a statement a University of Oxford spokesman said: We would like to express our deep sadness at the tragic death and send our condolences to his family and friends. While we await the findings of the official investigation we are offering support to students who may have been affected. Members of the College were invited to gather yesterday to remember him and any member of the College who is particularly affected by this sad news has been encouraged to contact the chaplain or any member of the welfare team. Mr Smith was on the varsity trip last year and had recently finished a three-month internship as a junior press officer Sotheby s auction house. Read More Tourist dies after being pulled from sea off coast of Cornwall while on holiday with family and friends Mr Smith was in his third year studying history at St John s College. Police officers found Matt Smith unconscious in a holiday flat at the upmarket Val Thorens the highest ski resort in Europe on Sunday morning (Photo: Facebook) He had also worked for the company that organises the skiing trip. As tributes poured in for the young skiier friend Glenn Tamkin posted a photo of the pair on Facebook under the caption: What we have once enjoyed we can never lose - I love you so much man RIP. An autopsy is being held this coming week said a local police source who said the tragedy was still being investigated at the scene. The annual Varsity Trip to the Alps is now one of the biggest events in both universities social calender. A skier at the top of a slope in Val Thorens (file photo) Ski resort of Val Thorens at dusk in France Publicity for this year s event described as the biggest ski party in the world reads: Those lucky enough to attend can ski all day on the slopes of one of the best ski areas in the world and party all night. A spokesperson for NUCO Travel which organises the trip told Varsity : Sadly one of our passengers passed away on Sunday 4th December 2016. At this time to respect their family s and friend s sic privacy we will not be commenting further. The first Varsity ski trip was held in Switzerland in 1922 and it now attracts more than 3 000 young people a year. Read More Drowned Brit holidaymaker was unlawfully killed after being chased into sea by bouncer In late 2010 there was an outcry when pictures and videos of scantily clad participants taking part in the so-called Valley Rally were published on Facebook. Many were involved in debauched drinking games. Scott Dunn a travel agency which provided prizes for the events at the time issued a statement attacking the inappropriate behaviour and saying they were pulling out of all future involvement . Academics also criticised the students saying they were bringing the world famous universities into disrepute. Most students attending this year s Varsity Trip left by coach for Val Thorens on Friday and arrived on Saturday for a week on the slopes. Students across Oxford hit the streets dressed as Santa in the biggest Christmas bar crawl.Many tipsy students were pictured stumbling around the town centre with some collapsing after getting a bit too merry.The club crawl advertising on Facebook as Santa Crawl Oxford promised to be the biggest night of your life and it looked like it was the messiest night of their lives for some.Scroll down for video Students queue to get in one of the clubs on their Santa Crawl in Oxford town centre last night before the end of term Around 1000 tickets were sold for the event that promised to be the best night of their lives with the Santa dash theme Some people got their Santa Claus outfits with their 10 tickets whilst some brought their own accessories in a bid to impress Posing for the pictures the students went to five nightclubs to dance and have a drink before ending their night at a superclub Not everyone was happy standing in the cold waiting to go inside as these ladies show with their arms crossedAt least 1 000 tickets were sold for students making their way through five nightclubs and ending at one superclub all in one night.Students donned their Santa hats and jackets and Mrs Santa costumers as they drank their way between the venues last night. Some students took to sitting on the street when they became tired as this Miss Claus with sunglasses shows It didn t take long for revellers to get the munchies and get some fast food to soak up the drink and have a sit https://www.openlearning.com/u/maklaretabs down Despite the freezing cold temperatures many students were spotted lying down on pavements surrounded by rubbish and even glassesThese pictures capture the lows and highs of the evening from some pre-drinking snacks to the post-drinking sick.Unfortunately some of Oxford historic buildings were painted in student s vomit and some of them were seen lying on the streets after drinking too much despite the freezing temperatures. Long queues of Santa brightened up the night as more of the thousand students were seen trying to get into the next nightclub Stopping for a kebab and some chips some students sensibly got some food to soak up the alcohol during the night Munching on a burger and chips these two found a bench to sit on whilst others just sat where they were Enjoying a greasy spoon these students seemed to be winding down for the night as they chatted outside a closed shop RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Married PE teacher 32 arrested for having sex with an... College student writes hilarious email to her TA while... Share this article Share Some young women decided to take their shoes off and walk barefoot across the frozen pavement.Some kind-hearted revellers donate their Santa cloaks to homeless people in a bid to keep them warm during the Winter. One kind-hearted man was spotted giving outfits to the homeless in a bid to keep them warm on the cold wintry night Whilst a person was trying to sleep he soon became surrounded by Santa jackets and trousers from students in Oxford One homeless woman and her dog were very pleased with their donations from the man even the extra Santa hatFor some Santas a kebab marked the end of their night as they made their merry way back to their halls of residence.The bar crawl which cost around 10 per person ended at Emporium after making pit stops along the way at ATIK and Anuba. Walking home after an eventful night out students were seen making their merry way back to their halls of residence and student digs Skipping away some of them still appeared to be in high Christmas spirits walking around the town centre Others were helped home by their friends after a few stumbles across the road and a few falls to the ground Security were forced to intervene with some of those on the night out to ensure they were able to get safely home Others were spotted a little more worse for wear with some being sick on the street and historical buildings of OxfordMany students take part in bar crawls during their time at university but more recently their antics have seen more controversy than before. This man took a tumble in what looks like it is vomit but quickly rolled his way back up after losing his balance Bar and pub crawls are attractive more attention in the media following recent controversysIn October a group of students from Nottingham caused outrage when they decided to dress up as the amputees in the Alton Towers Smiler rollercoaster crash. Victims of the Alton Towers crash labelled the stunt disgusting and disrespectful after seeing photos. In October students in Nottingham apologise after they dressed as what appeared to be Alton Towers rollercoaster victims And http://afda.com/u/backlinks-searches/edit concerns have been raised over student s safety after they wonder off drunk and unstableAlthough the Students Union at the University of Nottingham denied that the costumes which feature rollercoaster safety bars reference the crash.And the students some of whom appear to be carrying fake limbs with them have apologised for any offence caused. Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing!Could not subscribe try again laterInvalid EmailHundreds of bright Oxford students decided to swap their books for booze last night as they all descended on the town dressed as Santa Claus. The Thursday night bender did end a little early for one youngster who was spotted laying on the pavement in a puddle of unidentifiable bodily fluids. Others were pictured being propped up by security and sitting on kerbs. But others made the most of their arranged Santa Pub Crawl ahead of the festive break. (Photo: Alamy Live News) (Photo: Alamy Live News) One or two were pictured sobering up with a portion of greasy chips after their five-pub bar crawl that ended at at super club . Tickets for the festive event cost the bright sparks 10 which included a free Santa outfit. (Photo: Alamy Live News) (Photo: Alamy Live News) (Photo: Alamy Live News) The bar crawl officially ended at Emporium after making pitstops along the way at ATIK and Anuba. The boozy night out follows Nottingham University students dressing up as amputee victims of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash on a student bar crawl. The Tab reported the group of students - who dubbed themselves the 7 Legless during the night - were dressed in cardboard outfits designed to look like they were on a rollercoaster.