Universities told to pay almost £750,000 after student complaints

Complaints relating to Covid-19 make up 12 per cent of total number received by watchdog

Universities were told to pay compensation worth almost £750,000 in 2020, slightly less than in the previous year despite a rise in the number of complaints.

In its 2020 annual report, the Office for the Independent Adjudicator said it had made £742,132 of financial recommendations after students brought their complaints to the ombudsman. The cash recommendations were separate to the £264,142 of recommendations on complaints the OIA made following the closure of GSM London, which went into administration last year with more than 3,500 students enrolled on its courses.