Students across the university have been paying tribute to Cody Lavender, the American exchange student who tragically fell to his death from Pollock Halls early on Sunday morning.

Students from across the university have been paying tribute to Cody Lavender, the American exchange student who tragically fell to his death from Pollock Halls early on Sunday morning.

Cody, 20, fell from the fourth floor of Chancellor's Court at around 1am after watching the X factor final with some friends.

He was studying religious studies at Edinburgh as part of a semester-long foreign exchange programme from Dartmouth - the prestigious American Ivy League college.

This afternoon, students held a memorial service for Cody at Martin Hall, New College where he undertook the majority of his studies while at Edinburgh.

It is understood that the other Dartmouth students on the exchange programme have been excused from their examinations in the wake of Cody's death, with all of them absent in this morning's religious studies exams.

"Cody once said he just wanted to make a difference. Well you did buddy. We all love you very much."

His own Facebook profile has been flodded with comments from students at Dartmouth and Edinburgh alike, paying tribute to a 'kind, funny, compassionate...wonderful person'.

Tom Crady, the Dean of Dartmouth has released a statement on the college's website telling students: "With great sadness I regret to inform you that we have learned of the death of Cody Lavender...we have expressed our deepest sympathies to his family."

Crady also reassured students and staff that the Dartmouth community are "looking after each other" after hearing the tragic news.

Cody was known as an active campaigner for gay rights, organising a march to the American consulate last month to coincide with the US protests against Prop 8. He was also a member of BLOGS, Edinburgh's LGBT society.

It is unknown how Cody fell from the fourth floor of Chancellors Court (shown left), but police are not treating his death as suspicious. Edinburgh chaplincy and counselling services are available on campus for any student who has been affected by Cody's death.