Students at the UEA who had one of their key exams cancelled after a computer failure have had a last minute shock after being told they will have to sit it after all.

More than 200 medical students were queueing up outside their exam hall when their assessment was called off because of an IT problem.

They were told the exam could not be rescheduled and their final marks would be calculated using averages from previous tests.

Many have since gone on to secure jobs and are preparing to begin their careers after their scheduled graduation this summer.

But just a week ago, the students at the Norwich Medical School were informed of a shock U-turn from UEA bosses which means they will have to sit the cancelled exam after all, with the assessments due to take place within days.

Eastern Daily Press:

The decision came after the General Medical Council, the independent regulator of doctors in the UK, raised concerns that the students would be underqualified without the assessment.

While the initial exam was cancelled on March 22, the 211 students were not informed of the U-turn until May 14.

One student, who asked not to be named, described the situation as a "fiasco" and "immoral", and said the university should have had a contingency plan for an IT failure.

The student said: "Both UEA and the GMC have messed up and we are paying the price. Nottingham University experienced similar situations, but had prepared for an IT error so students were not as immensely impacted."

A UEA spokesman sad: "We are aware this has come as a shock for our students and we are very sorry for the anxiety and stress this has caused.

"We are communicating with students regularly.

"We have a duty to meet required standards to make sure we can progress competent and safe medical graduates who have been assessed on all areas.

"Once we have been able to ensure all students have the support they need, a full review will be undertaken to ensure the robustness of online delivery of exams in future."

Eastern Daily Press:

Prof Colin Melville, director of education and standards for the GMC said: "We recognise the anxiety this will cause for students affected and we understand this will be extremely difficult news for them, so close to their planned graduations.

"We support Norwich Medical School's decision to hold a replacement test,w which will provide assurance that all awarded medical degrees meet our required standards and deliver fairness to students."

The student added: "Us students can not help but feel like something immoral has happened this year."