STUDENTS at Newcastle University are being told that the majority of exams are expected to go ahead, despite disruptive action being taken by some members of the lecturers' union over pay.

Exams are due to start on Monday, and vice-chancellor Professor Christopher Edwards has sent an e-mail to all 17,000 students assuring them that every effort is being made to overcome the problems.

The university has also set up a webpage on its internal website, providing the latest news about the dispute.

About 35 per cent of academic staff at Newcastle University are members of the Association of University Teachers and some are refusing to set or mark exams and coursework.

The university has amended its regulations so that, as a last resort, final year students who do not have all of their marks would be allowed to graduate and receive their degree classification when marking is completed.

In the event of a final year exam not being set, students could be allowed to graduate with a degree based on work they have completed.

The dispute flared after national pay negotiations broke down.

The current offer to academic staff is a 12.6 per cent pay rise over three years.