Thousands of university students hoping for COVID compensation
It's as one case goes back to the High Court today
Thousands of students seeking compensation from their university over disruption due to Covid-19 and strike action will again take their battle to the High Court for a two-day hearing today (Tuesday 18 June).
The case is back in court after mediation talks between solicitors acting for more than 6,400 current and former University College London (UCL) students and the university concluded without reaching agreement on fair compensation.
Lawyers for the students argue that universities breached their contract with students by failing to provide in-person tuition and access to facilities that students had paid for.
They are seeking compensation on behalf of the students who paid between £9,250 and £40,000 a year for lessons that were cancelled or moved online and restricted access to campus facilities including libraries, labs and study spaces.
Solicitors for StudentGroupClaim.co.uk, have said they are committed to fighting for a generation of graduates who have been significantly set back in their careers because of strike and covid disruption and are urging anyone eligible to join the legal action.
"It's just not the same"
Sam Tumelty spent much of his University years locked down at home in Leyburn in North Yorkshire: "I mean you spent £9,000 a year, which is a lot, a lot of those fees go towards paying for your degree, but it's not just your degree, it's meeting new people, joining new societies and facilities as well."
"When you do it online it's not the same as doing it in person, talking to your teachers, it just feels like there is a barrier when you are doing it online, it's just not the same."
"It did feel lonely just sat in front of your desk, on your laptop for seven or eight hours a day, looking at what is essentially an inanimate object, it's just not the same as being face to face with people."
What do Universities say?
“The Covid-19 pandemic threw two years of unprecedented challenge at the higher education sector and our students, and we are proud of how universities adapted and managed in adverse circumstances.
“During some periods of lockdown, universities were not permitted to offer teaching and learning as usual and instead universities adjusted quickly and creatively to ensure students could learn and graduate.
“We are not able to comment on individual institutions or cases. Universities continually look to improve, and raise standards if students are not getting the learning opportunities they deserve.”