Overcrowding leaves students sitting on lecture hall floors

Overcrowding has forced some University of Edinburgh students to sit on floors in lectures as a result of extremely high enrollment figures.

Following a miscalculation of the number of spaces needed in each lecture, some course managers have had to look at new options for accommodating increasing numbers.

A University of Edinburgh spokesperson told The Journal: "At the start of the university year, some classes may attract more students than the number for which the original booking was made.

"In cases where accommodation may not be suitable, course organisers would look into making alternative arrangements."

Students from several subject areas have been forced to sit on the stairs or stand at the back of the lecture hall because allocated rooms are too small for the classes.

Ed Levien, a fourth year Mechanical Engineering student, told The Journal: “At least 15 people have to sit on the floor at the back of my Dynamics lecture. It is ridiculous that this is happening to 4th year students while the larger rooms are given to first year students who don’t even bother turning up to their lectures.”

The conditions in lectures have been condemned by Evan Beswick, EUSA Vice-President of Academic Affairs, who said: “It's clearly unacceptable to have students crammed into rooms with insufficient seats or, indeed, into rooms which are simply uncomfortable and not conducive to learning.”

Mr Beswick also urged university bosses to make use of vacant rooms around the university campus: “There's an obvious need for heads of schools to respond immediately to situations like this. Clearly that's not happening in some instances."

Concerns have recently been raised about the increase in student numbers this year, with record numbers of university applicants across the UK.

University of Edinburgh accepted an additional 1200 students this year. Last year, it took in an extra 500.

However, Mr Beswick dismissed this as a legitimate cause for the current problems, adding: “Sure, the University of Edinburgh has more students this year than expected, but the university estate is dreadfully underused across the board, so spare capacity does still exist.

“I'd encourage anyone who finds themselves perched on a desk or in an aisle to get in touch with their class or school reps straight away.”

'Fred', a second year history student who asked to remain anonymous, told The Journal: “People that come in late are forced to sit on the stairs as the seats are limited.

"However, the lecturer orders them to move, citing health and safety issues so they must climb over people to get to an available seat.

"Some people have just stopped coming to lectures but the situation doesn’t seem to be improving much.”