Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 on university students
Petitions Committee
HC 527
Published 13 July 2020
Recommendations
3
Accepted in Part
Para 23
Students have a right to seek a refund or to repeat part of their course...
Recommendation
Students have a right to seek a refund or to repeat part of their course if the service provided by their university is substandard, but the exact circumstances in which students should expect to receive a refund or be able …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees that circumstances for student redress are unclear and states that guidance has recently been published to aid students and providers. However, it explicitly rejects establishing a new centralised system for tuition fee refunds, citing the individualised nature of student contracts and circumstances.
4
Acknowledged
Para 24
While it appears that to date relatively few students have raised formal complaints with their...
Recommendation
While it appears that to date relatively few students have raised formal complaints with their universities or taken individual action to seek a refund of their tuition fees, many students are not happy with how university courses are being delivered. …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees students should be aware of their rights and is working with stakeholders (UUK, NUS, OfS, CMA, OIA) to explore how existing communication channels can improve students' understanding of their consumer rights, noting universities are already required to make students aware of the OIA scheme.
6
Rejected
The Government has put in place unprecedented financial support measures to respond to Covid-19, paying...
Recommendation
The Government has put in place unprecedented financial support measures to respond to Covid-19, paying the salaries of hundreds of thousands of employees nationally, and funding grants and loans for a huge number of businesses and industries. These are exceptional …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects providing additional funding to universities for student refunds or reducing student loans as a reimbursement method. It reiterates that refunds are a matter for individual providers based on contractual arrangements and points to existing stabilisation packages for the sector.
7
Rejected
Para 34
While it is too early to know what effect the Covid-19 outbreak will have on...
Recommendation
While it is too early to know what effect the Covid-19 outbreak will have on university courses in the next academic year, there will not be a return to business as usual. We hope that all universities will be able …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirms that any actions taken regarding student refunds or course repeats will apply to students in the 2020/21 academic year, thereby rejecting the recommendation for such arrangements to extend to students affected by COVID-19 in future academic years.
8
Acknowledged
University students whose courses have been affected by Covid-19, particularly those in their final year,...
Recommendation
University students whose courses have been affected by Covid-19, particularly those in their final year, are understandably concerned about the impact the disruption to their courses could have on their futures. We welcome the Government’s acknowledgment of these concerns, and …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges challenges for graduates and highlights general employment support like the Kickstart Scheme. It states a working group has been established to consider existing or additional guidance for postgraduate study opportunities, but does not commit to providing additional funding for students to extend their education or specific ongoing employment advice.
Conclusions (3)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 15
The Covid-19 outbreak has hugely disrupted the education of university students. A significant number of students have told us they are not receiving the standard of education that they had expected, feel they are entitled to, or which offers true value for money in light of the amount they are …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the significant disruption and challenges faced by students, noting universities' adaptation to online teaching and the OfS's role in ensuring quality. It highlights that universities were enabled to increase hardship funds using existing funding to support disadvantaged students.
2
Conclusion
Accepted
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 …
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the Committee's finding that there should not be a universal refund of tuition fees and expresses gratitude for the efforts made by universities and staff to deliver higher education during the pandemic.
5
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 30
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 …
Government Response Summary
The government states that student entitlement to a refund depends on individual contractual agreements. It details various financial support measures provided to universities, including loans and a restructuring regime, to help them manage the financial impacts of COVID-19 and ensure sector sustainability.