Almost 200,000 students who were at university during the COVID-19 pandemic are seeking financial compensation.
The Student Group Claim argues that students at the start of the pandemic did not have access to the tutoring and services they paid for, as teaching was moved online.
The action first started in 2023 when 100,000 students signed up for the no win, no fee claim. That number has now risen to 170,000 and 36 universities have been sent legal letters containing information about the proposed claim.
Here is everything that you need to know, from why the claim has been brought, what could happen next and how much you could get in compensation.
What is and isn’t covered in the claim
The Student Group Claim, made up of the law firms Harcus Parker and Asserson solicitors, states that because students were provided with a different service which had a lower value than what they paid for, under English consumer law they are entitled to financial compensation.
Both law firms initially said they would fight for compensation over students being unable to access campus facilities during the pandemic, as well as any teaching being cancelled due to industrial action.
But, as of March, the claim only covers teaching being moved online due to COVID in the academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22 at English and Welsh universities only. Students eligible to claim also have to had accepted an offer before 1 April 2020.
Not being pursued as part of the claim is:
• Teaching moved online due to COVID-19 in the academic year 2019-20
• Campus facility access restrictions due to COVID-19 in any academic year
• Teaching cancelled due to industrial action in any academic year.
Why has the claim been brought now?
The claim caught the attention of thousands more students in February after University College London (UCL) agreed a settlement payout of £21m.
By settling the university admitted no liability but said it “recognised that the COVID years were incredibly difficult for students. COVID-19 created disruption across society, and universities were no exception”.
Asal Reyhanian, an associate at Asserson Law Offices told Sky News in March the settlement was a “good test case”.
She said 50,000 more students signed up after the settlement, which shows a “desire to address the high fees students are paying for universities”.
The deadline for the claims relating to COVID is in September 2026.
What are they asking for?
Student Group Claim states that fees for online degrees are typically 25-50% less than fees for in-person courses, so universities should pay that difference in value to students as compensation.
Ms Reyhanian said the basic idea is that students “paid for and expected in-person teaching and access to facilities and what they got was far less valuable than what they paid for”.
She told Sky News: “We aren’t criticising universities for sticking to government guidelines and restrictions, what we are criticising them for is charging the same fees for a less valuable service
“It is like paying for a five-star holiday and getting a one-star holiday, you are entitled to compensation.”
What universities are involved?
After the UCL settlement, a further 36 universities have been sent pre-action letters.
This is a formal document sent by a potential claimant outlining the claim and demanding specific action.
Universities UK, an organisation which represents more than 140 institutions, said the pandemic was an “unprecedented challenge” and the sector had to “adapt to a fast-changing situation”.
A spokesperson previously said: “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.”
The universities sent pre-action letters
How much compensation could you get?
The amount of compensation awarded to students will depend on the university, the fees you were charged, and how your experience was affected. What course a claimant did could also be a factor, as some required more in-person teaching and use of facilities than others.
The Student Group Claim states that, by its estimates, UK-resident undergraduates who were at university during the pandemic will be able to claim on average £5,000 in compensation.
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The law firms that jointly brought the case, Harcus Parker and Asserson solicitors, work on a no win, no fee basis, meaning students would have to pay them a portion of their claim if it is successful.
The percentage the law firms can take is capped at 35%. This means if students are awarded £5,000 in compensation, the firms are likely to receive around £1750.
