The results of a Varsity survey reveal that 81% of students are in favour of the reasons behind the upcoming Boycott of Undergraduate Supervisions (BUS). 115 Cambridge students completed our self-selecting anonymous survey on the boycott. Although Cambridge students are largely sympathetic to the calls for better supervisor support, the survey found that a large proportion of students are increasingly frustrated at continued disruption to their education.

The BUS was called by Cambridge UCU’s Justice for College Supervisors (J4CS) campaign, demanding a formalised employment relationship and a new pay system. The majority of survey respondents expressed sympathy for their supervisors and supported calls for better pay. One respondent commented: “it’s ridiculous that Cambridge’s unique teaching system is essentially based on zero-hour contracts.”

Despite 81% people supporting the reasons behind the boycott, 76% of students also told Varsity they didn't think there should be further disruption after the Marking and Assessment Boycott.

Many students expressed disdain for supervisors, with one respondent commenting: “they’re just hurting the students, not the institution. I’m sick of having my degree disrupted.” Another described Cambridge academia as a “movement [led] by a load of middle-class intellectuals, weaponising working class movements.” This student argued that current pay is “disproportionate to the level of education,” questioning whether every supervisor was “taken by surprise” by their first paycheck and whether they had ever done “real people jobs.”

Another student noted that,“strikes in the higher education industry are unfair because the students have no means of counteracting the industrial action, were not warned of it before matriculating and will be paying 100% of the price for 50% of the education.”

Despite the support others felt, these students also noted their increasing scepticism over the negotiation practices underlying the boycott. These students told us that in principle they the calls for more stable contracts and increased pay but said that “support is contingent on the upcoming negotiation” between the University and J4CS. “If J4CS decline a reasonable offer (as the UCU have a habit of) I will be much less inclined to support them.”

A University spokesperson said: “The University is aware of, and is directly supporting, constructive dialogue between representatives for the Colleges and representatives from the campaign for College supervisors. Progress has been made on a number of areas and the negotiations are ongoing, which we continue to support. All sides are working hard to put in place the conditions needed to withdraw the call for the boycott.”

J4CS told Varsity: “Cambridge UCU is thrilled by the clear depth of support amongst students for the BUS. This accords with our experience talking to students, who want their  supervisors to be given fair pay and conditions for their teaching.”

“We hope for developments in the next week which might enable the boycott to be called off,” they said.

A spokesperson said that the University is “aware of, and is directly supporting, constructive dialogue between representatives for the Colleges and representatives from the campaign for College supervisors. Progress has been made on a number of areas and the negotiations are ongoing, which we continue to support. All sides are working hard to put in place the conditions needed to withdraw the call for the boycott.”

The University also noted their response to the BUS, and a joint statement from all parties.