Students may get cash back after strikes

STUDENTS at the University of Warwick may be able to get their money back after strikes cancelled lessons for thousands.

Solicitors fighting on behalf of affected students estimate that a whopping £1billion could be shared out as compensation for missed lectures and teaching time.

Staff walked out in more than 60 universities in February this year, including the University of Warwick, as part of several weeks of strike action over a pension row.

The University College Union (UCU), which led the strikes, predicted that over a million students in total would be affected.

Around 25,000 Warwick students had teaching interrupted while many were preparing for exams and deadlines.

Now, Bott and Co is taking universities to court on behalf of students affected. The firm predicts that average compensations for students could be in excess of £1,000.

Coby Benson, solicitor at Bott and Co and head of the new tuition fee compensation department, said: “We believe universities have breached their contract with students in failing to provide lectures and teaching time in accordance with the tuition fees paid by students to the university.”

The Telegraph has contacted the University of Warwick for a comment.

The University of Warwick was one of 65 universities taking part in the strikes for a total of 14 days.