More than 170,000 students in England and Wales are seeking compensation from dozens of universities after their studies were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Pre-action claim letters have been sent to 36 institutions, including Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Imperial College London, Leeds, Liverpool and Warwick.
The legal action follows a settlement between University College London and the Student Group Claim, which represented 6,000 UCL students. The university admitted no liability and the terms are confidential, but lawyers have previously suggested UK undergraduates affected by Covid could each claim £5,000. The case was due to be heard in court next week.
The claims are brought under consumer law, arguing that students paid for in-person teaching and full access to facilities but received online tuition and closed campuses. Lawyers point out that fees for online degree courses are typically 25–50% lower than for in-person courses, and maintain their clients are owed fair financial compensation.
Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson representing the students, said: “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.” Other universities facing action include Birmingham, Coventry, De Montfort, East Anglia, Leeds Beckett, LSE, Loughborough, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Southampton and York, with more possible before a September 2026 deadline.
Georgia Johnson, 28, who was studying a postgraduate teaching degree when Covid hit, said: “I sat in a room learning how to teach over Zoom.” She said the experience affected her mental health and delayed her career. Dr Michael Spence, UCL president and provost, acknowledged that the Covid years were “incredibly difficult” for students, while a Universities UK spokesperson said institutions had followed government guidance and adapted quickly to allow students to complete their degrees.
