The University of Edinburgh has issued a warning to students from privileged backgrounds to avoid being “snobs” toward their peers from Scottish and working-class backgrounds. This follows growing concerns raised by students about class-related discrimination on campus, highlighting the challenges faced by those from less well-off backgrounds in an environment dominated by students from private schools and wealthier families.
Class-Related Prejudice on Campus
The issue of class prejudice at Edinburgh University came to light after the newly-formed Scottish Social Mobility Society filed complaints, revealing that students from less affluent backgrounds were being subject to mockery and shaming. The university acknowledged that while those from middle to lower socioeconomic backgrounds are in the minority, such students are the majority in wider UK society.
Discriminatory behaviors reported include derogatory comments about clothing, accents, and a perceived lack of knowledge. One student shared that they were told, “You can’t be working class because you’re at university,” while another experienced classmates boasting about their wealth, attributing it to “working harder.”
Scottish Students Face Discrimination
Many students from Scotland reported facing subtle but damaging forms of class bias, especially those with regional accents. Olivia Gallosi, a third-year student from Inverness, described how her peers initially treated her kindly until they discovered she was Scottish, at which point their attitudes shifted. Gallosi noted that some of her friends chose other universities to avoid the discrimination they felt at Edinburgh.
Similarly, Ronni Sharp, a first-year student, recalled being judged for having a job while studying. “I had rent to pay,” she said, but others were critical of her working instead of enjoying student life.
Founding the Scottish Social Mobility Society
Shanley Breese, a law student, founded the Scottish Social Mobility Society after encountering isolation at the university. Breese, who had never heard of private schools before coming to Edinburgh, said that the constant question about what school she had attended made it difficult for her to fit in. She created the society as a space for Scottish students to connect and support each other in a community that often felt alienating.
Breese reflected on the difficult experience of not being familiar with the private school culture, which made it challenging to make friends and navigate the social landscape. She also mentioned the issues she faced with her accent, which was often ridiculed by peers, and how tutors would ask Scottish students to speak more clearly, based on assumptions about their intelligence.
University’s Response
The University of Edinburgh expressed pride in its diverse community and reiterated its commitment to creating an inclusive environment free from discrimination. A spokesperson explained that the university’s Dignity and Respect policy aims to address harmful behavior, and efforts are ongoing to provide better support for all students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Despite these efforts, students and advocates have called for greater awareness of class bias, especially the damaging effects of accent prejudice, and a more thorough approach to ensuring that all students, regardless of background, feel valued and supported at the university.
