Belfast legal firm launches group action for students impacted by Covid-19

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

Students at university during the coronavirus pandemic should receive compensation for loss of educational experience, a Belfast legal firm has argued.

Phoenix Law has launched a group action against Northern Ireland universities on behalf of students whose experiences were significantly disrupted during the pandemic.

The firm has contended that students paid full tuition fees with the expectation of receiving the complete university experience, including in-person teaching, access to campus facilities, and a robust educational environment as promised at enrolment.

But they said following the pandemic lockdown in March 2020, universities in the region suspended all in-person classes and moved to remote learning for the remainder of the semester.

It was not just disappointing - it was a breach of trust and contract

While a brief hybrid approach was attempted in autumn 2020, there was a return to online teaching by winter of that year, and in-person teaching did not resume until January 2022.

Compensation is being sought for breach of contract, consumer rights violations and damages for loss of educational experience.

The firm is arguing that the universities “failed to provide an equivalent level of educational value, practical learning opportunities, or access to critical facilities and support services”.

Megan Burns, of Phoenix Law, said the pandemic experience at universities was “not just disappointing but a breach of trust and contract”.

“Students paid for a full university experience,” she said.

“When these promises were not kept, it was not just disappointing — it was a breach of trust and contract.

“We would like to see students properly compensated for what they lost and Phoenix Law is committed to helping them achieve that outcome.

“We encourage anyone affected to come forward and join this group action.”