PANDEMIC-HIT UCD STUDENTS DENIED REFUND

INTERNATIONAL students at University College Dublin who paid up to €37,000 in fees feel ‘shortchanged’ over a decision not to compensate them for disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 900 have signed a petition calling on UCD to return part of their hefty tuition fees, with over 150 writing directly to the college.

Their concerns include losing out on work experience and not being able to access UCD’s library, labs or archives.

They also have difficulties with distance learning, such as connectivity issues and time-zone differences. Aaditya Shah, 23, from India said his life savings, €24,800, went towards his Masters in Engineering Management. He now feels his education has been ‘totally uprooted’.

‘Before the pandemic struck I felt my college experience at UCD had been worth the money,’ he said, speaking from his home in Mumbai.

‘I figured they would return some of our fees when the university closed because we’re missing out on so much. But when I heard that we wouldn’t be compensated I just couldn’t believe it. I think it’s totally unfair that we’re being shortchanged like this.’

Mr Shah has started a petition, hoping UCD will be pressured into reversing its decision.

‘There is a major change in the ‘Short-changed’: Student Aaditya Shah, from India teaching patterns since the university moved from in-class learning to distance learning,’ he said.

‘I’m living in a different time zone and have limited access to resources like high speed connectivity, accessing hard copies of books from the library, meeting facilities, and brainstorming on group tasks.

‘I started the petition because the quality of the education students are receiving now is not what we signed up for.’

Conor Anderson, Graduate Officer, UCD Students’ Union, said that UCD has a responsibility to address the concerns of its international students.

‘Students understand that this is an unprecedented situation, but no one in the world would pay upwards of €37,000 for an online course, and no university would charge it. So we need to talk about compensation,’ he said. ‘It also sets a really bad example for other people abroad thinking about taking up a third level course in Ireland.’

‘I think it’s totally unfair’