Dundee University reprimanded after ignoring FOI request

The Courier submitted an FOI request in October 2025 seeking details of how the university implemented its anti-money laundering policy, including questions on cash tuition payments and checks on third-party payments made on behalf of students.

Under freedom of information law, the university had 20 working days to respond. While Abertay University and University of St Andrews replied before the deadline, and University of Stirling responded a week late, Dundee University failed to answer entirely.

Following an investigation, the commissioner ruled the university had breached the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

“The University of Dundee has not met its obligations in respect of responding to a freedom of information request within statutory timescales,” the commissioner said.

The watchdog ordered the university to respond by June 8. Dundee eventually issued a reply on May 5.

The email read: “Please accept our sin­cere apo­lo­gies for the delay in respond­ing. We hope it did not cause you any prob­lems. We appre­ci­ate your patience and under­stand­ing of this mat­ter.”

The university later cited “a very heavy caseload of requests” and staff shortages. Around 750 employees have left the institution since a £30 million deficit emerged in summer 2024.