It’s no wonder that previous successful candidates turned down their job offers for Masters’ role; although if you step back it’s actually pretty astonishing that people go to the trouble of applying for a job like that, with all the prep involved, all the emotional energy that’s required to be part of that process, with all the opportunities the role could present, and after being offered the role they turn it down like it’s working a few weekend shifts part time at the local.
Presumably they sought assurances that were not forthcoming.