UCL has agreed to a £21 million settlement in a legal claim brought by former students who argued that pandemic-era disruption reduced the quality of the education they received.
The case is the first in a series of similar claims taken against UK universities that have reached the High Court stage. Although UCL has not admitted liability, the settlement is likely to influence ongoing claims across the higher education sector.
The law firm Asserson, which is representing the claimants alongside Harcus Parker, said another 24,000 claimants from several universities had signed up just this week, since the UCL settlement was announced.
Home undergraduate tuition fees at UCL are typically £9,300 per year, while some international students pay up to £39,800 depending on the course. In pursuit of a world-class education, students and their families rearrange their finances to afford this huge cost, often even by resorting to debt.
Claimants argue that these fees were paid based on the promise of in-person teaching, access to specialist facilities, and campus resources such as laboratories and libraries.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, universities across the UK moved teaching online for extended periods. Access to campus facilities was restricted, and many students either returned home or had to remain locked down in university accommodation.
Students involved in the claim argue that the shift to remote learning and the loss of in-person services reduced the value of the education they received. Further, many of the students who are involved in this claim will have also suffered a disruption in their education during the staff strikes in prolonged disputes over pensions, pay and working conditions.
UCL had been due to face trial this month before agreeing to settle. The university has maintained that it worked to deliver high-quality education under unprecedented circumstances and in line with government guidance at the time.
More than 170,000 current and former students, who claim they didn't receive the full education they paid for, are pursuing action against 36 universities, including King's College London, the London School of Economics, and Imperial College London. The deadline for bringing claims relating to pandemic disruption is September 2026.
If further claims succeed, the total cost to the UK higher education sector could run into hundreds of millions of pounds, adding to the strain on universities already grappling with significant budgetary pressure.
Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost, said: "We recognise that the Covid years were incredibly difficult for students. Covid19 created disruption across society, and universities were no exception. Throughout this period our priority was clear: to support students, protect their wellbeing, and maintain a high quality academic experience in unprecedented circumstances. Staff acted quickly, strictly following government guidance, and worked diligently to deliver teaching and student support in unprecedented circumstances.
"Supporting students is UCL’s ongoing priority and our response during the pandemic was responsible and robust with many in our community going above and beyond. Throughout Covid19, UCL followed UK government guidance and implemented comprehensive safety measures to protect our community. Every decision was made to safeguard health while preserving the highest possible academic standards.
"UCL has never disputed the principle that individuals may seek legal remedies. Throughout the pandemic we provided clear routes for students to seek redress, and many secured compensation through those established processes. This resolution enables us to focus on our core mission of delivering world-leading research and education."