Thousands of former students are poised to receive a portion of £21 million following a legal battle regarding the impact of the coronavirus lockdowns on their education. University College London (UCL) has agreed to compensate approximately 6,500 individuals with the multi-million-pound sum, while explicitly stating that they are not accepting liability. The case was scheduled for a court hearing in March.
According to the Financial Times, the exact amount each student will receive is yet to be determined. These students alleged that due to the Covid-related restrictions, which led to campus closures and a shift to online learning, they did not receive the full educational experience they had paid for.
Legal representatives anticipate that this settlement may compel other universities to consider compensating their graduates. Student Group Claim is advocating on behalf of around 194,000 claimants from 36 different universities.
UCL announced on Friday that a confidential agreement had been reached. The university clarified that while they do not admit fault, they chose to settle to resolve the matter amicably and avoid additional costs that could divert resources away from academic activities.
Adam Zoubir, a partner at Harcus Parker solicitors representing the claimants against UCL, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, stating that it brings closure for those impacted by the transition to online classes during the pandemic. However, the legal team continues to represent numerous students who were studying at other institutions during the same period.
Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson solicitors also involved in the UCL case, echoed similar sentiments, noting the successful resolution for their clients and the intention to shift focus to claimants from other universities affected by the pandemic.
A spokesperson from Universities UK acknowledged the extraordinary challenges universities faced during the pandemic, emphasizing that institutions, in alignment with government directives, swiftly adapted to ensure students could complete their studies even when in-person teaching was restricted.
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