LONDON

More than 170,000 current and former students are preparing legal action against 36 universities in the UK, arguing they did not receive the full in-person education they paid for during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a report by the BBC, the cases follow a settlement between University College London (UCL) and the Student Claim Group, which is coordinating claims on behalf of students across the country.

While the terms of that agreement remain confidential, it is seen as a significant development that could open the door to wider claims against the UK higher education sector.

Formal legal letters have now been sent to 36 additional universities, notifying them of intended claims for compensation.

The students argue that when teaching moved online and campuses were closed during lockdowns, the education delivered was materially different from what they had been promised.

Students say tuition fees reflected face-to-face teaching, access to facilities such as libraries and laboratories, and the broader campus experience, all of which were heavily restricted during the pandemic.

At the time, the UK government said universities were responsible for setting their own tuition fees and that it expected institutions to continue delivering a high-quality education despite the unprecedented public health crisis.

UCL has not admitted any liability in settling its case, and neither the university nor lawyers for the students are able to discuss the details.

The original claim against UCL involved about 6,000 students and was scheduled to go to court in March before the settlement was reached.

The new wave of cases is being brought under the consumer protection law.

Universities named as facing potential claims include Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and Newcastle.

The central argument focuses on the difference in value between courses delivered in person and those delivered entirely online.

During the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, most university teaching in the UK moved online for extended periods.

Many students returned to their family homes, while others remained in university accommodation under strict lockdown rules. Access to shared facilities, including specialist studios, laboratories and workshops, was often unavailable.