Thousands of former students are poised to receive a portion of £21 million following a legal dispute surrounding the impact of coronavirus lockdowns on their education. University College London (UCL) has agreed to distribute the multi-million-pound sum among approximately 6,500 individuals, although the institution has stated it accepts no liability. The case was scheduled for a court hearing in March.
Reportedly, the specific amount each student will receive remains undetermined. The students alleged that due to Covid-related lockdowns, which led to campus closures and a shift to online learning, they did not receive the full educational experience they had paid for.
Legal experts anticipate that this settlement may prompt other universities to compensate their graduates. Student Group Claim is currently representing about 194,000 claimants from 36 different universities.
UCL confirmed on Friday that a confidential settlement had been reached. The university clarified that while it did not admit any fault, it chose to settle to avoid further expenses that could detract from its core activities of teaching, research, and student support.
Adam Zoubir, a partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, expressed satisfaction with the resolution for UCL students affected by the pandemic-related disruptions. Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson solicitors, also welcomed the commercial settlement with UCL and highlighted ongoing efforts to assist students from other universities during the pandemic.
A spokesperson from Universities UK acknowledged the challenges faced by universities and students during the Covid-19 crisis. The spokesperson noted that universities had to quickly adapt to government guidelines, including the shift to remote learning during lockdowns to ensure students could complete their degrees.
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