Select committee: Petitions Committee
Conclusion 2
Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 on university students
Published 13 Jul 2020
Paragraph 16
Petitions Committee The Government's response to Coronavirus All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We have heard evidence that universities, lecturers and support staff have made tremendous efforts to continue to deliver university courses in uniquely challenging circumstances, and some students have continued to receive an excellent education. In at least some cases universities have been able to provide courses in a way that students believe is good value for money. We do not therefore believe that there should be a universal refund or reimbursement of tuition fees to all university students.
From: Petitions Committee, Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 on university students (HC 527), paragraph 16, 13 July 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 16 September 2020 (deadline 13 September 2020).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's finding against a universal tuition fee refund, but says a new centralised refund system is "not a preferred option at this time" and that any refund is a matter for providers.
- It "welcomes the Committee's finding" that there should not be a universal refund of tuition fees to all students.
- It agrees that the exact circumstances in which a student might receive redress are not clear, as this depends on contractual arrangements and individual circumstances. A Department for Education working group will consider whether existing guidance can be brought together and whether additional guidance is needed.
- On additional funding or reducing student loans to pay refunds, it says "Any refund is a matter for providers, so the Government is not considering writing off or reducing tuition fee loans."
- It states that the OIA is "currently developing a bespoke approach" to complaints from very large groups of students. It also agrees students should know their rights and is working with stakeholders to "explore existing communications channels".