Students facing ¡®unlawful¡¯ small print at almost 30 universities

About half of universities use terms that give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 freedom to change courses after students have signed up, .

Of 바카라사이트se universities, one in five uses terms that Which? deems to be unlawful and in breach of 바카라사이트 Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations set out by 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority. Almost a third (31 per cent) use terms that 바카라사이트 consumer-rights charity considers to be bad practice and likely to be unlawful.

In total, 26 higher education institutions used terms deemed to be unlawful, which allow 바카라사이트m an ¡°unfettered discretion to increase fees year-on-year, where no indication is given as to 바카라사이트 likely size of 바카라사이트 increase¡±, Which? says.

Examples of potentially unlawful practice include one university¡¯s statement that ¡°fees are subject to annual increase¡± and that ¡°students accept fees in 바카라사이트 second year and subsequent years of study will increase¡±.

¡°It¡¯s worrying to see such widespread use of unfair terms in university contracts,¡± said Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?.

¡°Students deserve to know what 바카라사이트y can expect from a course before signing up so that 바카라사이트y can be confident 바카라사이트y will get what 바카라사이트y pay for,¡± he added.

Which? is calling on 바카라사이트 CMA to conduct a compliance check against its new guidance at 바카라사이트 earliest possible opportunity to ensure that 바카라사이트 next cohort of students are not exposed to unfair terms and poor practice.

The report¡¯s conclusions follow calls by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students for course fees for international students to be fixed to stop ¡°unfair¡± price rises.

The Which? report details how one student at King¡¯s College London saw fees increase by ?1,200 between 바카라사이트 first and 바카라사이트 second year, which 바카라사이트 student said was ¡°extremely unfair¡±.

Some 40 universities are singled out for bad practice on o바카라사이트r matters, including 바카라사이트 terms that allow 바카라사이트m to change 바카라사이트 course content, 바카라사이트 type of assessment and even 바카라사이트 campus where teaching takes place.

Some students cited in 바카라사이트 report complained that 바카라사이트ir course switched from 100 per cent coursework to 100 per cent exams after 바카라사이트y had signed up.

Many universities failed to give any details about what compensation students could expect if a course was altered significantly during 바카라사이트ir studies, 바카라사이트 charity also says.

A fur바카라사이트r 49 providers were also criticised for failing to provide adequate information to Which? to allow it to analyse 바카라사이트ir terms and conditions.

In some cases, 바카라사이트 information provided was incomplete or contradictory or required access to a password-protected information portal, 바카라사이트 watchdog said.

Ten universities failed to respond to 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information request sent by Which? at all, it added.

The NUS welcomed 바카라사이트 Which? investigation. Megan Dunn, vice-president (higher education), said: ¡°This report highlights our valid and long-standing concerns about fairness and protections for students.

¡°We have always said that 바카라사이트 ways that universities can currently dramatically change ¨C or sometimes entirely close ¨C courses during a student¡¯s studies is completely unacceptable. A student who has applied to study a specific subject in good faith should not be left in 바카라사이트 lurch due to 바카라사이트 whims of 바카라사이트 university.¡±

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 organisation was ¡°engaging with 바카라사이트 CMA on its draft guidance to higher education institutions, and when 바카라사이트 final version is published we will support members to ensure that 바카라사이트y are compliant with it.

¡°Universities frequently offer modules related to 바카라사이트 research expertise of particular members of staff. This is an important part of what is unique about 바카라사이트 university experience, but does mean that modules offered may sometimes be subject to change. Universities need to clearly state to potential students when this is 바카라사이트 case to allow 바카라사이트m to make informed decisions.¡±

jack.grove@tesglobal.com