- The students want a partial refund which could cost the sector up to £765 million
More than 150,000 students are taking legal action against their universities due to online education during the pandemic.
They claim education chiefs have breached their contractual duty to provide face-to-face teaching and facilities.
The students want a partial refund of around £5,000 – the typical pre-pandemic difference between the £9,250 in-person degree and an online degree. It could cost the sector up to £765m.
Their claims are handled by law firms on a no-win, no-fee basis. The first case, against University College London, is likely to continue over the next year. It was halted last summer when a judge gave the parties eight months to reach a compromise, but negotiations failed.
The students want a partial refund of around £5,000 – the typical pre-pandemic difference between the £9,250 in-person degree and an online degree. It could cost the sector up to £765 million (Stock Image)
The first case, against University College London, is likely to continue over the next year
Canadian Maiah Thompson, 20, has spent 16 months unsuccessfully pursuing the refund of her £32,100 international membership fee through existing channels.
She told The Times: ‘It wasn’t what I was promised. I applied to a world-renowned university, not Zoom classes.”
Professor Kathy Armour, vice-provost of UCL, said she was disappointed that lawyers had ’roundly rejected’ alternative resolution routes, adding: ‘Throughout the pandemic we have prioritized the health and safety of our entire community and have followed government guidelines.”