Oxford graduate sues university because he only received a 2:1

A graduate from Oxford University is suing the institution after he failed to achieve a top score for his degree.

Faiz Siddiqui has accused the university of "inadequate" teaching for his course on modern history, which he completed back in 2000.

The BBC reported that after graduating, he was awarded a 2:1 or a upper second degree, instead of the top ranking of a '1st' he had hoped to achieve.

But, 17 years after leaving the university, ranked number one in the world according to the Times Higher Education rankings, the graduate is suing them after telling the High Court that it cost him a possible job.

He has focused the blame on staff absences and has demanded £1m to compensate for his alleged losses.

Oxford University has denied the claims and has dismissed them as being "massively" outside the legal time limit.

His counsel, Roger Mallalieu, said: "Whilst a 2:1 degree from Oxford might rightly seem like a tremendous achievement to most, it fell significantly short of Mr Siddiqui's expectations and was, to him, a huge disappointment."

Siddiqui has claimed that he has struggled to get various job positions since leaving the university and he is now unemployed.

Julian Milford for Oxford University said that Siddiqui had received the same treatment as any other student in any year would have received and that the then-student only complained that the teaching was "a little bit dull".

The hearing, which began on Tuesday 21 November, will continue for seven days.

If the university is deemed liable, then damages will be determined after the case.