For thousands of students, university during Covid wasn’t the vibrant campus life they signed up for.
It was Zoom lectures, locked facilities, postponed graduations, and isolation.
Now, more than 170,000 current and former students across the UK are taking legal action, arguing they did not receive the full education experience they paid for during the pandemic.
The move follows a confidential settlement between University College London (UCL) and the Student Group Claim, which involved about 6,000 students.
Although UCL did not admit liability, a court hearing is scheduled for March.
According to BBC, pre-action letters have now been sent to 36 universities, warning that students intend to seek damages for courses delivered online rather than in person.
The claims relate to the academic years 2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22, with some courses still partially online in 2022–23.
At the centre of the case is a key question: should students pay full tuition for an experience that moved almost entirely online?
The legal argument focuses on the difference in value between physical classes and virtual learning.
An economic analysis of what students describe as “lost learning” will form the basis of the claims.
The universities targeted include the University of Manchester, University of Leeds, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Newcastle University, and the University of Liverpool, among others.
In total, 36 institutions have received pre-action letters.
During the pandemic, most university teaching shifted online.
Students either returned home or remained confined to campus accommodation.
Access to libraries, laboratories, studios, and specialist facilities was heavily restricted — particularly affecting courses like fine art and applied arts that depend on equipment and studio space.
Graduation ceremonies were cancelled, delayed, or held virtually..
Many students entered a difficult job market without the traditional closure and networking opportunities that come with in-person graduation.
Universities UK, which represents over 140 institutions, defended the sector.
It described the pandemic as an “unprecedented challenge,” noting that universities were not permitted to offer in-person teaching during certain lockdown periods.
“During some periods of lockdown, universities were not permitted to offer in-person teaching as usual, and instead they adjusted quickly and creatively to allow students to complete their degrees,” a spokesperson said, as quoted by the BBC.
At the time, the government maintained that universities were responsible for setting their own fees and were expected to continue delivering high-quality education.
Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson Solicitors, described the learning lost during Covid as “one of the great injustices to come out of the pandemic – and it’s never been remedied.”
Some students also experienced further disruption due to strikes over pay and working conditions.
Pre-action letters state that students “suffered disappointment and distress as a result of the failure of the university to provide the services promised.”
The deadline for Covid-related claims is September 2026.
For students globally, including young Nigerians considering studying abroad — the case raises deeper questions about value in higher education.
Is a university degree just about lectures and exams?.
Or is it about access to facilities,
community, networking, campus life, and shared experiences?
As the lawsuits unfold, the outcome could shape how universities define responsibility and what students can rightfully expect when they pay for a campus experience.
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