HUNDREDS of students at Scottish universities have been unable to graduate because they haven't paid their library fines.
Newly published figures have revealed that over five academic years almost 600 students have been prevented from graduating because of unpaid fines.
During the same period universities have issued millions of pounds worth of fines.
Strathclyde University had the most students who were unable to graduate, with 38 cases between September 2008 and May this year, according to student newspaper The Journal.
The next worst offenders hailed from the University of West Scotland (UWS), which stopped 214 students from graduating due to fines. Some 19 students could not graduate from Dundee, and one from Scotland's Rural College was denied.
In the same period Scottish universities have made £3.82 million in library fines.
Edinburgh University was the biggest earner, making £605,662. However, it also waived or incurred unpaid fines of £195,000 during the period. It does not prevent students from graduating if they do not pay library fines.
In Glasgow the five main universities, Glasgow University, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian University, Strathclyde University and UWS racked up £1,514,781 in library fines between them.
The National Union of Students (NUS) said it was unfair to punish academically for non-academic debts.
Gordon Maloney, NUS Scotland president, said: "It is entirely unacceptable that UWS or any other university in Scotland should prevent students from graduating due to unpaid library fines. Students who owe money for overdue library books or other non-academic debt should certainly pay off the money they owe, but preventing these students from receiving their degrees, which they have worked long hours to obtain, lacks any sense of proportionality."
Mr Maloney said punishing students in this way could have serious implications for students entering a challenging jobs market, and that the NUS had raised the issue with the Office of Fair Trading, which was investigating the practice.
He added: "Universities that prevent students with overdue library fines from obtaining their degree, or enrolling in another year of study, are imposing a harsher sanction on students than banks would over similar debts.
"It's now time for universities such as UWS and others in Scotland with similar policies to recognise this, drop these policies, and work out more sensible arrangements for their students and graduates to repay non-academic debts."
A Strathclyde University spokesman said: "Regulations around graduation exist to ensure all students are treated equally. The university provides support and financial advice to students and deals sensitively with those facing financial hardship."
A UWS spokesman said: "As is outlined in the university's Terms and Conditions, which are available to view online, students who are in debt to UWS may, in extreme cases, be prevented from graduating.
"The university has a range of processes to intervene and support students with debt management before graduation.
"UWS encourages any students experiencing financial difficulty paying their university debts to contact its finance team, who are on hand to provide support and explore options available to ensure a satisfactory solution is reached."
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