FRIDAY the 13th was good for some, bad for others as far as students at Southampton Institute were concerned.

For many, three years of assignments, exams, late nights and cramming sessions all came down to the long walk into the institute's Herbert Collins building at noon yesterday.

Outgoing student union president Alison Griffith said: "You can smell the fear in here that's for sure.

"I've seen a lot of happy faces and a lot of sad faces."

One of the happiest faces was on photography student Pete Benham, who scored a first.

"I really didn't expect it, I was expecting a 2-2 because that's what the indications had sort of been - I had to look about four times to make sure that I had it right."

The artist, featured in the Daily Echo for his work - a room filled with 75,000 photographs taken by his Casio watch camera - now hopes to get funding to build a three-bedroom house of photographs that he can live in and show 24 hours a day on webcam.

"I've applied for world records for most images displayed in one room and most images taken in a set amount of time," he said.

His latest work will be displayed at the Bargate Centre until August 4.

For others, like business management student Raza Rubbani, the day was one of mixed emotions. said: "I am a bit disappointed with a third, I worked hard for it but it's just one of those things, it doesn't pay off, but I tried my best. But at least I have a job to go to."

Raza will take over from Alison Griffith as president of the student union. "I've wanted to do it for two years," he said.

"I like the environment, it's one of those periods in your life, a transitional phase, and a lot of people are influenced by that, so I want to be a part of that."

Jan Bradford, who has worked at the institute for 25 years, said the tradition of posting all the results on the same mid-July day was deliberate.

"It's quite nice because you can see the hype and share the excitement with your friends," she said.

But she said mobiles had changed things.

"It really only started last year, there are so many mobile phones coming out and they all call their parents and friends.

Despite the results being posted on the unluckiest of days, Ms Bradford said most could look forward to November, when graduation ceremonies make the results official.