Nearly 200,000 university students are now part of a collective legal claim seeking compensation for disruption to their education during the Covid-19 pandemic, following a settlement reached with University College London (UCL). Approximately 30,000 additional students joined the Student Group Claim this week, spurred by the UCL agreement, according to lawyers representing the claimants.
The legal action centers on the argument that students paid full tuition fees for in-person teaching and access to university facilities, but instead received a substantially different educational experience due to pandemic-related restrictions. Lawyers maintain that students are entitled to “fair financial compensation” reflecting the difference in value between the promised and delivered education. Fees for fully online courses are typically 25-50% lower than those for traditional in-person programs.
UCL confirmed on February 13th that it had reached a settlement with 6,500 former students who had initiated legal proceedings. While the university has not admitted liability, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday that the settlement is valued at £21 million, citing an email sent to claimants from their legal team. Neither UCL nor the legal representatives for the students have publicly confirmed this figure.
The settlement with UCL has prompted a wave of new claims. Pre-action letters have now been sent to 36 universities across England and Wales, including Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Imperial College London, Leeds, Liverpool, and Warwick. Further institutions could also be targeted, according to Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson solicitors, and Adam Zoubir, a partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, who are jointly representing the students.
“As the terms of the settlement between the claimants and UCL are confidential, we are unable to create any comment beyond what we have stated previously,” Goldwater and Zoubir said in a joint statement. “Still, we can confirm that, since the UCL settlement was announced, approximately 30,000 additional claimants who attended universities during the pandemic have joined Student Group Claim. We continue to advance the next stage of the litigation on behalf of affected students.”
The legal basis for the claims rests on consumer law, which allows for compensation when a service is not delivered as promised. Universities UK, representing over 140 institutions, acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic, stating that the sector had to “adapt to a fast-changing situation.” A spokesperson for Universities UK noted that during lockdowns, universities adjusted to deliver courses remotely and that the government expected institutions to maintain educational quality.
Dr. Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost, stated last week that the university prioritized student support and wellbeing throughout the pandemic, adhering to government guidance and implementing safety measures. He also highlighted that UCL had established processes for students to seek redress during the pandemic, with many securing compensation through those channels. “This resolution enables us to focus on our core mission of delivering world-leading research and education,” Spence said.
The case against UCL was scheduled to be heard in court in March. The settlement has now paved the way for broader legal action against the university sector, with claims being brought under consumer law.
