Mass Legal Action Launched Against Universities Over Pandemic Teaching
Students across England and Wales have initiated legal proceedings against 36 universities, claiming their studies were severely disrupted by the pandemic. The action follows a significant settlement between University College London and affected students, potentially opening the floodgates for widespread claims across the higher education sector.
Unprecedented Scale of Claims
More than 170,000 students are now seeking compensation after their university courses were moved online during Covid-19 restrictions. Pre-action claim letters have been formally served to institutions including Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Leeds, Imperial College London, Liverpool, and Warwick universities.
The legal action gained momentum following last week's confidential settlement between UCL and the Student Group Claim, which represented 6,000 affected students. While UCL admitted no liability in the settlement, the agreement has established a precedent that could cost universities millions in compensation claims.
Consumer Law Basis for Claims
Lawyers are pursuing the cases under consumer protection legislation, arguing that students paid for in-person teaching and full campus access but received an inferior online alternative. The legal argument centers on the principle that consumers who pay for a specific service but receive something of lower value are entitled to compensation.
"UK undergraduates at university during the pandemic borrowed money at ridiculous interest rates to fund courses which were ruined by online teaching and closed facilities," said Shimon Goldwater, partner at Asserson law firm, which is representing the students.
Legal representatives note that online degree courses typically cost 25-50% less than traditional in-person programs, strengthening their argument for "fair financial compensation" for affected students.
Widespread Impact Across Universities
The list of universities facing legal action extends beyond the initial 36 institutions, including Birmingham, Coventry, De Montfort, East Anglia, Leeds Beckett, London School of Economics and Political Science, Loughborough, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Southampton, and York. More universities could be added as students have until September 2026 to join the claims.
Personal Stories of Disruption
Georgia Johnson, 28, who was completing a postgraduate teaching degree when the pandemic hit, described the profound impact on her education and career. "With teaching you have to get into the classroom as soon as possible. I sat in a room learning how to teach over Zoom," she explained.
The experience significantly affected her mental health and delayed her professional development. "It was a massive set-back. I had to take time out of university because it got too much. I definitely didn't get what I should have got while I was there," Johnson added.
University Responses and Sector Position
Dr Michael Spence, UCL president and provost, acknowledged the challenges students faced during the pandemic. "We recognise that the Covid years were incredibly difficult for students. Covid-19 created disruption across society, and universities were no exception," he stated.
Universities UK, representing 142 institutions, defended the sector's response, noting that universities followed government guidance during rapidly changing circumstances. "During some periods of lockdown, universities were not permitted to offer in-person teaching as usual and instead they adjusted quickly and creatively to allow students to complete their degrees," a spokesperson explained.
The legal action represents one of the largest collective claims against the higher education sector in recent history, with potential implications for how universities handle future disruptions and their contractual obligations to students.
