Students launch compensation claims against 36 universities

According to BBC, the 36 institutions are facing claims from over 170,000 students who say they did not receive the full value of the education they paid for during the pandemic.

The move follows a settlement between University College London (UCL) and the Student Group Claim, which represents current students and graduates.

Legal letters have been sent to each of the 36 institutions, warning that students intend to seek compensation for teaching they claim they paid for but did not fully receive.

Universities UK, which represents more than 140 institutions, said the pandemic was an “unprecedented challenge” and that the sector had to “adapt to a fast-changing situation.”

A spokesperson said: “During some periods of lockdown, universities were not permitted to offer in-person teaching as usual, and they adjusted quickly and creatively to allow students to complete their degrees.”

At the time, the government said universities were responsible for setting their own tuition fees and that it expected them to continue delivering high-quality education. UCL has not admitted liability in its case, and the details of the settlement remain confidential. Neither the university nor the students’ lawyers have disclosed further details. The case against UCL involved 6,000 students and had been scheduled to be heard in court in March.

The settlement now appears to have paved the way for wider legal action across the university sector. The claims, brought under consumer law, involve institutions including University of Bristol, University of Birmingham, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool and Newcastle University.

The core of the claim concerns the difference in tuition fees between courses delivered online and those taught in person.

During the pandemic, most university teaching moved online for extended periods, with students either returning home or remaining in lockdown in university accommodation. Access to shared campus facilities was restricted, particularly affecting students on courses requiring specialist equipment and practical spaces.

Students studying fine art and applied arts were among those who expressed significant frustration at the time. Graduation ceremonies were held virtually or postponed, and graduates entered a job market that was still recovering from the pandemic.