Students Begin Covid Compensation Claim Against 36 More Universities

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A major wave of legal action has begun as more than 170,000 current and former students across England and Wales launch Covid‑era compensation claims against 36 British universities, arguing they did not receive the full education they paid for during pandemic disruption. The coordinated move follows a recent confidential settlement with University College London (UCL) that is now being used as a catalyst for wider action.

Student Group Claim, a collective legal body representing students affected by teaching changes between 2019 and 2022, has sent pre‑action letters to 36 institutions, signalling impending claims under consumer protection laws. Students say that when courses moved online and campus facilities were restricted due to Covid‑19 lockdowns, they effectively paid full fees for a reduced‑value educational experience — one that did not match the face‑to‑face teaching, campus access and resources promised in university prospectuses and contracts.

The list of universities now facing potential compensation claims includes a wide range of institutions — from research powerhouses like Imperial College London, University of Bristol and University of Manchester to civic universities such as Cardiff, Swansea and De Montfort. Students involved could each seek amounts estimated at up to around £5,000, reflecting the difference between in‑person tuition and what they actually received online, though exact figures depend on individual cases and legal interpretation.

At the heart of the claims is the argument that universities breached contract and basic consumer rights by charging standard fees when core elements of the courses — such as seminars, labs, studios and library access — were limited or unavailable for extended periods. The group’s legal representatives contend that consumer protections should override contractual clauses that sought to absolve institutions of responsibility for disruption beyond their control.

Universities have defended their pandemic responses, noting they followed government and regulator guidance and adapted quickly to maintain continuity of study amid unprecedented conditions. Universities UK, which speaks for more than 140 institutions, emphasises that lockdowns and restrictions were outside university control and that measures were taken to support students as best as possible.

The UCL settlement did not involve any admission of liability, and its confidential nature means details are not public. However, it has encouraged other students to pursue claims before legal deadlines under the Limitation Act, which could affect claims linked to the 2020‑21 academic year from September 2026 onwards.

As this cross‑sector legal push continues, it highlights growing scrutiny of how higher education institutions balance contractual obligations against extraordinary circumstances like global pandemics — and whether students who paid for traditional, in‑person learning deserve compensation when those expectations were significantly altered.

Read More At>>