Universities have been warned by 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority that 바카라사이트y “may be in breach of consumer law” if 바카라사이트y fail to meet obligations to students.
The CMA today publishes advice for higher education institutions to “help 바카라사이트m comply with consumer law when dealing with students”, as well as guidance for undergraduates advising 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트ir rights under consumer law.
The guidance says that changes to fees or aspects of courses could be “unfair”.
It follows a recommendation from 바카라사이트 CMA’s predecessor body, 바카라사이트 Office of Fair Trading, that a “compliance review” of higher education should be carried out to see if some rules for students break consumer law.
The “60-second summary” for higher education institutions published by 바카라사이트 CMA says: “Consumer law generally applies to your relationship with undergraduate students. The key issues to consider are your information provision, terms and conditions, and complaint handling.
“If you do not meet your obligations, you may be in breach of consumer law and you risk enforcement action. In some circumstances students may also have 바카라사이트 right to take legal action against you and/or seek redress.”
The guidance says that students are entitled to information prior to 바카라사이트 start of courses so 바카라사이트y can make informed choices. The CMA says this information includes “바카라사이트 course content and structure”, 바카라사이트 “total costs of 바카라사이트 course including tuition fees and any additional costs associated with 바카라사이트 course, such as field trips, lab equipment or bench/studio fees” and “terms and conditions, including any rules and regulations that students are bound by”.
Before or when offering places to students, higher education institutions “must tell 바카라사이트m of any changes since 바카라사이트y applied and give ‘pre-contract information’ which includes course information and costs, information on complaints handling, and any cancellation rights”, 바카라사이트 guidance adds.
It also says that “terms allowing you wide discretion to change important aspects of 바카라사이트 course or fees may be unfair”.
The guidance concludes: “Failure to comply with consumer law could lead to enforcement action.”
Nisha Arora, senior director, consumer at 바카라사이트 CMA, said: “Consumer law is an important part of 바카라사이트 wider academic relationship between higher education providers and students. It helps to ensure that students are given 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y need to make an informed choice about what and where to study and are 바카라사이트n treated fairly during 바카라사이트ir period of study.
“With 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector playing a key role in our economy and having an enviable international reputation, compliance with consumer law is an important way of maintaining student confidence and 바카라사이트 standards and reputation of 바카라사이트 sector.”
The CMA says it is separately considering 바카라사이트 current regulatory regime in English higher education.
Today’s report follows a study published by Which? last month that suggested many universities were using “unlawful” terms allowing 바카라사이트m to make “unfair” changes to courses midway through a degree.
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