A national marking boycott by university lecturers demanding better pay could delay graduations in Sussex.

Thousands of students are expected to graduate from the University of Sussex and University of Brighton next month.

But hundreds of lecturers are refusing to mark coursework and exam papers in protest over longterm poor pay, forcing universities to draw up contingency plans.

Although both universities claim students' work will be marked, Brighton University has admitted it may take longer than usual and could delay graduation ceremonies scheduled for July.

A spokeswoman said: "All marking will be done by the staff who normally mark students' work. However, because some members of staff are undertaking industrial action, this marking may be delayed. It may delay graduation but we hope the dispute is resolved in time to avoid that."

Yesterday teaching unions were expected to reject a second pay offer of 13 per cent over three years by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).

The Association of University Teachers (AUT) and NATFHE, the university and college lecturers' union, want a 23 per cent rise over three years to address long-term poor pay.

They say new money from top-up fees due to be introduced this year should go towards improving lecturers' pay and began the assessment boycott in March in protest.

Last week Sussex University announced it would withhold 20 per cent of lecturers' pay if they continued to take part in the boycott.

Vice-chancellor Alasdair Smith said: "Our overriding concern is the interests of our students as they complete their years of hard work and study."

A university spokeswoman said she expected graduation ceremonies scheduled for July 20 and 21 to go ahead as planned at this stage.

More than 4,400 students are due to graduate from Brighton and more than 2,200 from Sussex.

Paul Cecil, from the AUT at Sussex, said: "Of course we are concerned for the students but we have the full support of Sussex students' union.

"The employers accept we are poorly paid and promised when money from top-up fees came through we would get a rise. They are going back on their word.

"Initial feedback is that this latest offer is totally unacceptable. It amounts to about 3.5 per cent a year and does nothing to redress the long-term situation."