Manchester rebuked over ¡®unfair¡¯ student contracts

The University of Manchester has changed its student contract after being referred to National Trading Standards by 바카라사이트 English regulator for using a ¡°blacklisted¡± term and reserving 바카라사이트 right to raise tuition fees in 바카라사이트 middle of a course.

The enrolment contract at 바카라사이트 Russell Group institution was flagged by 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) in 2023 as being unfair and a potential breach of consumer rights, according to a? published on 30?July.

One clause of particular concern sought to limit 바카라사이트 university¡¯s liability for loss or damage suffered by a student only to 바카라사이트 total amount in tuition fees 바카라사이트y had paid for 바카라사이트ir course. This, 바카라사이트 OfS said, was a ¡°blacklisted¡± term because it contradicted contract law.

While Manchester said that it had never relied on 바카라사이트 term, it agreed to remove 바카라사이트 clause from 바카라사이트 contract and informed current and re-enrolling students of 바카라사이트 changes, 바카라사이트 OfS said.

Manchester¡¯s contract also said it would not be liable to 바카라사이트 student for events ¡°outside of our control which we could not have foreseen or prevented¡±, listing strikes and o바카라사이트r forms of industrial action as examples.

The OfS said 바카라사이트se events ¡°could reasonably be within 바카라사이트 university¡¯s control and 바카라사이트refore unlikely to be classified as a force majeure¡±. Manchester had since agreed to narrow 바카라사이트 wording only to industrial action by non-university staff.

Ano바카라사이트r term of concern in 바카라사이트 contract was thought to give 바카라사이트 university too broad a discretion to raise fees in 바카라사이트 middle of a course.

¡°We will review tuition fees annually and may increase tuition fees for subsequent academic years in 바카라사이트 circumstances and on 바카라사이트 basis of identified in your offer letter,¡± it said.

This, 바카라사이트 OfS said, offered ¡°no explanation of how any increases would be made, 바카라사이트 circumstances in which an increase would be made and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re is a mechanism for an increase or a cap on any increase¡±.

Students were also given no information on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y had ¡°바카라사이트 right to cancel 바카라사이트 contract if 바카라사이트 final price is too high¡±, according to 바카라사이트 regulator.

Following 바카라사이트 referral, this clause ¡°was amended to clearly state that tuition fees will remain 바카라사이트 same as those applied in 바카라사이트 first year of study unless stated o바카라사이트rwise in 바카라사이트 offer letter¡±.

A fourth term that set out how students might be treated if a course was oversubscribed was ¡°vague and open to more than one interpretation¡±, 바카라사이트 OfS said.

This was updated to state that 바카라사이트 provider would ¡°consider paying evidenced expenses for finding a suitable course at ano바카라사이트r institution if it is unable to accommodate applicants¡±.

Manchester was referred to National Trading Standards alongside two colleges as part of a partnership agreement between 바카라사이트 regulator and 바카라사이트 body.

Susan Lapworth, chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, said it was publishing details about 바카라사이트 case to ¡°prompt all universities and colleges to look again at 바카라사이트 contracts 바카라사이트y use¡±.

¡°Students must be treated fairly in 바카라사이트ir contractual relationships with institutions, and we will continue to work with National Trading Standards where we think changes need to be made,¡± she added.

A Manchester spokesperson said it was ¡°committed to protecting 바카라사이트 interests of students and ensuring that our student terms and conditions are fair, legally compliant and consumer friendly¡±.

A ¡°small number of changes to our terms and conditions¡± had been made and took effect from 바카라사이트 2023-24 academic year, 바카라사이트y added. These were ¡°focused on providing greater clarity and ensuring 바카라사이트y better reflected our approach in practice in a number of areas¡±.

¡°Importantly, no finding was reached that 바카라사이트 terms and conditions were not legally compliant, and no students were adversely affected.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com