Students seek Covid compensation claim against Nottingham universities
Students and graduates at Nottingham's two universities are planning to launch legal action against the institutions, claiming the education they received during the pandemic was not up to standard.University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are among the 36 latest higher education institutions to face compensation claims from more than 170,000 students across the UK.This comes as the Student Group Claim, which is representing students and graduates, reached a settlement with University College London (UCL).The compensation figure has not yet been confirmed by either party, but Financial Times reports the settlement to be more than £21 million.Claims submitted to the Student Group Claim are coordinated by Asserson Law Offices and Harcus Parker Limited, with the group stating that students did not receive the education they paid for during the pandemic.This is due to teaching being moved online and university facilities such as libraries and studios being closed.This led to many students feeling like they didn't get the full university experience, particularly in the 2020/21 academic year, which was covered by long lockdown periods.The group argues that clauses in universities' contracts with their students, which suggests the institutions can continue to charge full tuition fees despite reduced in-person teaching, are unfair and that universities shouldn't rely on them under the Consumer Acts Right.The group is now planning action against 36 universities in England, including the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.Each university has been sent a pre-action claim letter with information about the proposed claim.When approached by Nottinghamshire Live, a spokesperson for the University of Nottingham declined to comment.Nottingham Trent University did not respond to the request for comment.Adam Zoubir, partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, said: "Students who were at university during coronavirus>Covid had a very rough ride, but they have received no compensation or tuition fee reductions."They now find themselves saddled with eye-watering debt from fees paid for an educational experience that they did not receive. We are helping them seek fair financial compensation through the courts."Shimon Goldwater, partner at Asserson solicitors, added: "UK undergraduates at university during the pandemic borrowed money at ridiculous interest rates to fund courses which were ruined by online teaching and closed facilities."Student Group Claim is helping students challenge universities to do what they should have done during Covid: pay students compensation for not providing them with the in-person teaching for which they paid."
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