More than 150,000 students sue their universities over online teaching during the pandemic

More than 150,000 students are taking legal action against their universities over online teaching during the pandemic.

They claim education chiefs breached their contractual duty to provide in-person teaching and facilities.

Students want partial refunds of around £5,000, the typical difference before the pandemic between the in-person tuition rate of £9,250 and an online one. It could cost the sector up to £765m.

Their claims are being handled by law firms without any profit or fees. The first case, against University College London, is likely to go ahead over the next year. It was suspended last summer when a judge gave the parties eight months to reach an agreement, but negotiations were unsuccessful.

Canadian Maiah Thompson, 20, spent 16 months trying unsuccessfully to obtain refunds of her £32,100 international fee through existing channels.

She told The Times: ‘It wasn’t what I was promised. “I enrolled in a world-famous university, not Zoom lessons.”

Professor Kathy Armor, vice-chancellor of UCL, said she was disappointed that lawyers had “flatly rejected” alternative resolution routes, adding: “Throughout the pandemic, we have prioritized the health and safety of our entire community and We follow the government’s guidelines.