Thousands of former students are in line to receive a portion of £21 million as compensation for the impact of the coronavirus lockdowns on their educational experience. University College London (UCL) has agreed to distribute the substantial sum among approximately 6,500 individuals, although they have not accepted any responsibility for the situation. The case involving UCL was scheduled for a court hearing in March.
According to the Financial Times, the exact amount each student will receive remains undetermined. The students argued that the quality of education they received was compromised due to the campus closures and the shift to online learning during the Covid lockdowns.
Legal experts suggest that this settlement might prompt other universities to consider compensating their graduates. Student Group Claim is advocating for around 194,000 claimants from 36 different universities.
UCL confirmed on Friday that a confidential settlement had been reached. In a statement, the university clarified that while they did not admit liability, they opted to settle to avoid further expenses that could divert resources from teaching, research, and student support.
Adam Zoubir, a partner at Harcus Parker solicitors representing the claimants against UCL, expressed satisfaction with the resolution for UCL attendees affected by the pandemic. The focus now shifts to representing a large number of students from various universities during the Covid era.
Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson solicitors also involved in the UCL case, welcomed the commercial agreement reached with UCL and indicated that efforts would now concentrate on claimants from other universities during the pandemic.
A spokesperson from Universities UK acknowledged the challenges universities faced during the pandemic, highlighting the rapid adjustments made to adhere to government guidelines and ensure students could complete their studies despite restrictions on in-person teaching.
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