Let-down students handed £650,000

Universities were told to pay students more than £650,000 in compensation last year after problems with their courses.

In total, financial remedies were handed to nearly 200 students – in some cases thousands of pounds – after the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) found they had cause for complaint.

The higher education watchdog investigates complaints by UK students relating to issues such as academic status, for example if a student thinks they have been unfairly withdrawn from a course, and services, such as the availability and quality of facilities and the accuracy of course information.

The OIA’S latest annual report shows that universities and colleges were told to pay £583,321.29 in total last year to students who had suffered financial loss, distress or inconvenience.

In addition, just under £70,000 was paid through settlements reached after students complained to the OIA, bringing the total compensation bill for last year to around £653,000.

The highest payout was to a first-year international PHD student with sponsorship whose supervisors had refused to provide supervision after he raised concerns about them.

Before the student could find another supervisor, his institution terminated his studies for lack of engagement.

The institution said it could have done more to help the student find alternative supervision, but stood by its decision to terminate his studies.

The OIA found in favour of the student and the institution was told to pay the student’s stipend – around £40,000 and fees plus compensation of £7,000.