A further 36 UK universities face legal action over Covid tuition fees, with more than 170,000 current and former students claiming they did not receive the education they paid for during the pandemic. The potential claims follow a confidential settlement between University College London (UCL) and the Student Claim Group, which is now preparing compensation cases against institutions across the sector.
Legal pre-action letters have been sent to 36 universities, warning that damages will be sought under consumer law for teaching and facilities students say were promised but not delivered during Covid-19 restrictions. The claims centre on the widespread shift from in-person teaching to online delivery and the loss of access to campus facilities.
At the time, the government said universities were responsible for setting their own fees and insisted that institutions should continue providing a high-quality education despite lockdowns and social distancing measures.
UCL Settlement Opens Door to Wider Claims
UCL has not admitted liability and the terms of its settlement remain confidential. The case involved around 6,000 students and was due to reach court in March before an agreement was reached. Neither UCL nor the students’ legal representatives have disclosed financial details.
The settlement is now seen as a potential turning point, paving the way for mass legal action against the university sector. Lawyers representing students say the case establishes momentum for claims based on consumer rights, arguing that students paid for a premium, in-person experience but received a reduced service.
Online Teaching and Loss of Facilities at Heart of Dispute
The central argument focuses on the difference in value between in-person and online tuition. Economic analysis is expected to form a core part of the new claims, with students arguing that fees did not reflect the reduced nature of teaching delivered remotely.
During the pandemic, students were often sent home or confined to university accommodation, with libraries, laboratories, studios and other shared facilities closed or heavily restricted. Courses requiring specialist equipment, such as fine art, applied arts and laboratory-based degrees, were particularly affected.
Many students also say they lost the wider university experience, including networking opportunities, social life and in-person academic support, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that could not be recreated online.
Consumer Law at Centre of Compensation Claims
Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson Solicitors, said the disruption to learning during Covid represented a major injustice that has yet to be addressed.
He said: “If you pay for a five-star holiday and receive a one-star holiday, English law says you are entitled to compensation. The same principle applies here.”
The Student Claim Group argues that consumer protection law overrides clauses in university contracts that attempt to limit responsibility for disruption caused by external events. Legal letters state that students suffered not only financial loss but also distress and disappointment due to the failure to deliver promised services.
Universities Named in Pre-Action Letters
The 36 universities that have received pre-action letters include institutions across England and Wales, among them Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Imperial College London, King’s College London, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Warwick and York.
Claims relate to the academic years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, when teaching was most severely disrupted. By 2022-23, nearly a third of courses still included online or hybrid delivery.
Strikes and Ongoing Disruption Add to Grievances
Many students involved in the claims also experienced further disruption due to long-running university staff strikes over pensions, pay and working conditions. Legal correspondence notes that these disputes compounded the impact of Covid-related changes to teaching and assessment.
Graduation ceremonies were cancelled or delayed, while students entering the job market faced an economy still recovering from the pandemic, adding to feelings that they had not received value for money.
Deadline for Covid-Related Student Claims
Universities UK, which represents more than 140 institutions, has been approached for comment. The deadline for students to bring Covid-related compensation claims is September 2026, meaning further legal action against universities is likely in the coming months.
