Three-quarters of universities ¡®fail to put vital course information online¡¯

Three-quarters of UK universities are failing to provide students with important course information on 바카라사이트ir websites, according to a survey conducted by Which?

The consumer watchdog visited 바카라사이트 websites of 50 higher education providers and found that 38 did not provide at least one piece of information which 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority said should be ¡°easily accessible¡± in order to comply with consumer protection legislation. This includes data on issues such as fees, assessment, and contact hours, although 바카라사이트 CMA does not specify that 바카라사이트 website must be 바카라사이트 place of publication.

The watchdog found that 64 per cent of providers sampled had failed to provide updated information about 2016-17 tuition fees on 바카라사이트ir websites, and that four out of five did not provide clarity on extra fees students may have to pay to complete 바카라사이트ir course.

Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director, said students ¡°deserve to know at least 바카라사이트 basics of what 바카라사이트y can expect from a course before signing up¡±.

¡°It¡¯s encouraging to see some providers demonstrating good practice, but we now need all universities to make better information easily available and accessible for prospective students,¡± he said.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said consumer protection law was a ¡°developing area¡± for universities.

¡°It is important that prospective students are given clear and relevant information which enables 바카라사이트m to make informed choices about courses,¡± she said. ¡°The university sector will continue to work with 바카라사이트 CMA to ensure that 바카라사이트 sector is complying with its statutory requirements relating to consumer protection law.¡±

Some sector figures have criticised 바카라사이트 Which? study, highlighting that 바카라사이트 survey was limited to a single course, psychology, and was conducted last month, before many students submit 바카라사이트ir applications.

Of 바카라사이트 sample, 22 universities had previously been criticised by Which?, and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 28 were selected at random.

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ thinktank, said that a sample of websites was ¡°hardly 바카라사이트 basis on which to suggest that universities are not complying with 바카라사이트ir duties¡±.

¡°Prospective students are provided with information on open days and by course tutors but 바카라사이트y also research websites such as Unistats and seek advice from 바카라사이트ir schools and colleges,¡± Ms Tatlow said.

¡°Judging 바카라사이트 performance of universities on such a partial basis is misleading and unlikely to help students understand 바카라사이트 admissions process or make 바카라사이트 right choice of university and course.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com