UNIVERSITY bosses have postponed the start of exams after a computer glitch.

More than 2000 students signed a petition calling for a delay in exams starting after an upgrade to IT systems caused disruption.

An upgrade to the Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) system was supposed to go live on Boxing Day.

But instead it is not due to launch until tomorrow, New Year's Day.

Now the university has said the exam week will not begin until Monday, January 21 and assignment deadlines will be extended until Friday, January 11.

GCU posted on Twitter: "The university is rescheduling to ensure students are not disadvantaged in their examinations or the submission of assignments as a result of the system upgrades.

"A revised exam timetable will be available by January 4.

"The upgraded GCULearn is now available for users to access their materials as normal.

"Please be aware the software provider Turnitin will be taking its system off line to all users from 4pm on January 5, and this is outside the university’s control."

Students had set up an online petition calling for the deadline extension.

The petition reads: "GCU Learn, a tool designed for students to access course materials, has been down for several days due to an upgrade.

"The tool was meant to go live today, but that did not happen and will be going live on Tuesday, January 1 2019.

"This upgrade is being done at a time where students need access to GCU Learn as the exams are only a few days away and some people have deadlines to meet for coursework.

"Therefore, we, the undersigned demand GCU to delay the exams and all coursework deadlines by one week."