An institution has agreed to pay out the multi-million figure to about 6,500 former students, but ‘admitted no liability’
Thousands of former students are set to get a share of £21million after they launched a legal claim over disruption to their education during the coronavirus lockdowns.
University College London (UCL) has agreed to pay out the multi-million figure to about 6,500 people, but “admitted no liability”. The UCL claim was due to be heard in court in March.
The Financial Times reports that the amount each person would get will vary and has yet to be decided. The students had claimed they did not receive the full education they paid for because of Covid lockdowns, which saw campuses closed and lessons moved online.
Lawyers say the agreed payout could put pressure on other universities to compensate graduates. Student Group Claim is representing around 194,000 claimants from 36 other universities.
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UCL said on Friday that it had reached a confidential settlement.
In a statement, the university said: “In doing so, UCL admitted no liability but agreed to settle so the matter could be resolved amicably and without further expense, which would have meant diverting valuable resources away from teaching, research and supporting our students.”
“This resolution allows us to stay focused on our key priority of delivering an outstanding education and experience for our students. Throughout this litigation process UCL has always sought to resolve matters in the best interests of our former and current students.”
Adam Zoubir, partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, which jointly represented the claimants suing UCL, said: “I am delighted that this settlement provides a resolution for our clients who attended UCL during the pandemic and had their classes moved online.
“This is the end of the claim against UCL, but we continue to represent tens of thousands of students who were at other universities during Covid.”
Shimon Goldwater, partner at Asserson solicitors, which jointly represented the claimants suing UCL, said: “I am very pleased that our clients have been able to achieve a commercial settlement of their claims with UCL.
“Student Group Claim will now turn its attention to claimants who attended other universities during the pandemic.”
A spokesperson from Universities UK said: “The Covid-19 pandemic threw two years of unprecedented challenge at universities and their students. Institutions – like other sectors – followed government guidance 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.”
