170,000 students to sue 36 UK varsities over Covid-19 online classes

More than 170,000 current and former students are pursuing legal action against 36 universities in the UK, claiming they did not receive the full education they paid for during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move follows a confidential settlement between University College London and the Student Group Claim, which now represents students and graduates from other institutions.

As reported by BBC on Monday, pre-action letters have been sent to each of the 36 universities, warning that damages will be sought for courses delivered online rather than in-person.

Universities UK, which represents over 140 institutions, defended the schools, saying the pandemic was an “unprecedented challenge” and that universities had to “adapt to a fast-changing situation.”

“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,” BBC quoted a spokesperson as saying.

It reported that the government had stated at the time that universities were responsible for setting their own fees and expected them to continue delivering a high-quality education.

UCL, which settled a case involving 6,000 students, did not admit liability, and the court hearing is scheduled for March, BBC reported.

It said the deal has now opened the way for large-scale legal action against the university sector.

The new claims target universities including Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester.

The claims focus on the tuition fee difference between courses delivered online and those offered in person, and an economic analysis of the lost learning will form the basis of the cases.

During the pandemic, most university teaching shifted online, with students either returning home or restricted to university accommodation.

Access to facilities was limited, particularly affecting courses requiring specialist equipment, such as fine art or applied arts.

Graduation ceremonies were often virtual or delayed, leaving students entering a challenging job market.

A partner at Asserson Solicitors, Shimon Goldwater, described the learning lost during Covid as “one of the great injustices to come out of the pandemic – and it’s never been remedied.”

The 36 universities to receive pre-action letters include: University of Bath, University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, City, St George’s University of London, Coventry University, De Montfort University, University of East Anglia, University of Exeter, Imperial College London, and University of Kent.

Others include King’s College London, University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, London School of Economics, Loughborough University, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, and University of Nottingham.

The rest are Nottingham Trent University, Northumbria University, University of Portsmouth, Queen Mary University of London, University of Reading, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Southampton, Swansea University, University of the Arts London, University of the West of England, University of Warwick, and University of York.

According to BBC, some students have also experienced further disruption due to strikes over pay and conditions.

Pre-action letters note that students “suffered disappointment and distress as a result of the failure of the university to provide the services promised.”

Claims relate to the academic years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22, with some courses still partially online during 2022-23.

The deadline for Covid-related claims is September 2026.