NUI Galway Students’ Union has condemned the University’s decision to charge students sitting online repeat exams. Students who did not pass exams in May have the option to repeat those exams in August. A fee of €295 is usually charged to cover costs such as venue, supervisors and materials. However, next month’s repeat exams will take place online and many of those costs do not exist in an online format. The Students’ Union is calling on the University to cancel the charge for this year’s repeat exams in line with other colleges across the country.
The Students’ Union is also critical of the University charging the exam fees at a time when many students struggled with new online learning and exam formats at a time of great uncertainty. The Union has accused the University of taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to generate income from exam fees.
Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey said: “We are disgusted that the University is charging students to sit repeat exams. Students who have failed an exam will have to pay €295 for the pleasure of sitting the repeat exam in their own bedroom.”
“We are in extraordinary times where students have not had access to learning facilities like the library and face to face teaching, and many have struggled as a result. Now, the University wants to punish those students with this charge instead of following the example of other colleges which have cancelled the fee.”
Say no to #RipOffNUIG €295 Repeat Exam Fees! Please sign and share our petition HERE
For more information or to get involved in the campaign, contact:
Pádraic Toomey
President
NUI Galway Students’ Union
Ph. 086 385 5502
Email su.president@nuigalway.ie
