English universities face new ‘value for money’ regulations

English universities face new regulations that aim to ensure students receive value for money, following research showing half of students don’t understand their consumer rights. 

The Office for Students (OfS) has proposed a new ongoing condition of registration that would require every university and college to treat its students “fairly in relation to its higher education provision and the services that support it”.

This would require institutions to publish documents on their websites explaining their student protection arrangements, including student contracts, policies related to course changes, information on complaints, refunds and compensation, and information about agents that work on behalf of an institution.

The OfS has launched a consultation on the proposals, which it says will “help ensure students get the value for money and higher education experience promised to them by their institutions”.

The proposals come in response to research by consultancy Public First, commissioned by the OfS, which found only 50 per cent of students said that they understood and could describe their rights and entitlements. 

“Like anyone buying goods or services from a business, students are protected by consumer law, and it’s essential that they can rely on clear information about what their courses will offer, and that the education they receive aligns with those commitments,” said Jean Arnold, OfS interim director of quality and access.

“While most students will have a positive higher education experience, our research shows that many feel that their institutions are not delivering what was promised.”

Arnold said that while many institutions are already providing clear information to students, “at a time of national conversation about the cost of higher education, we think these new requirements could help ensure every institution lives up to our sector’s excellent reputation”.

Earlier this year, UCL settled with a group of former students claiming compensation for disruption to teaching during the pandemic, and legal action is ongoing against 36 other institutions. 

Similarly, students at some institutions have also been offered compensation in recent years following disruption to teaching caused by industrial action. Widespread cutbacks across English higher education, leading to course closures and staff redundancies, have increased pressure on the regulator to do more to protect students’ interests.

The consultation will close in July, with a final decision expected in autumn this year.

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com