Select committee: Petitions Committee
Conclusion 5
Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 on university students
Published 13 Jul 2020
Paragraph 30
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)
If a university has failed to provide the education a student has paid for, the student is entitled to a refund from that university. However, given the likely impact of Covid-19 on universities—which could cost them around £2.5 billion in fees and teaching grant income alone—there is a risk that a large number of students requesting and being entitled to a refund could have a serious and detrimental effect on the sustainability of the higher education sector. That is not, however, a reason to prevent students from receiving any refunds to which they are entitled.
From: Petitions Committee, Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 on university students (HC 527), paragraph 30, 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".