Breach of Contract Solicitors

University is becoming more and more expensive, and with rising costs come rising expectations. Every student is entitled to attend a university which is well staffed, professionally run, and considers the health and safety of its students to be a top priority.

Please note: we are only able to take on cases on a privately paying basis. If you are unable to privately fund your case or you looking for general guidance on what actions you can take to protect you or your child’s education rights, you can refer to the Education section of the Citizens Advice website.

When these expectations are not met, the university may be accused of breach of contract, negligence, and/or discrimination. In such cases, it may be possible to secure outcomes such as:

• Some of all of your fees refunded
• Additional support provided to rectify the situation
• Compensation paid for breach of contract

At IBB Law, our higher education law solicitors have operated in the academic sector for many years, so have the expertise to provide clear advice on whether a breach of contract, negligence and/or discrimination has occurred and your options.

We can assist with breach of contract, negligence and discrimination at universities, including in relation to:

• Absentee tutors
• Administrative errors which cause pain or inconvenience for the student
• Lack of adequate supervision for PhD candidates
• Failure to ensure the health and safety of the student while on university premises

We have dealt with a number of these types of cases, achieving favourable outcomes for our clients. We work with some of the top education law barristers and mediators to put together a detailed legal analysis of your case and advise you on next steps.

We offer a fixed fee initial consultation with our team to discuss your needs and see how we can help. We will then provide a costs estimate for further work you may wish us to undertake, following the initial fixed fee consultation.  We endeavour to provide certainty over the costs involved.

Looking for quick answers about university breach of contract, negligence and discrimination? Take a look at our FAQs.

Common questions about university breach of contract, negligence and discrimination

What counts as breach of contract by a university?

There is a contract at the heart of any university course: as the student, you pay up to £9,000 per year and in return you expect to receive a higher-level education which hopefully results in the qualification you are seeking.

The details of this contract are laid out in the rules, regulations and handbooks of the university, and both parties agree to follow this contract until the completion of the degree, or until one or both parties decide to part ways. It is important to remember that the contract exists to protect both the student and the university in the event that there is a breach, an accusation of negligence, or an instance of discrimination.

Can I make a claim against my university for breach of contract?

While each case is unique, there is often precedent which has been codified into the law and can be used as a guiding principle for any legal defence. For instance, the case of Clarke v Lincolnshire & Humberside resulted in an Appeal Court ruling established the concept of a contractual relationship between the student and the university, describing it as a hybrid relationship which is subject to both public law and private law.

Can I make a claim against my university for discrimination?

Regarding disability cases, we would primarily refer to The Equality Act of 2010, which contains specific advice on dealing with discrimination in the further and higher education sector.

We also help students who have suffered sex discrimination at university.

Get clear legal advice and support to take action over university breach of contract, negligence and/or discrimination

If you would like to know more about how we can help you with your education law enquiry, please contact our education law senior legal administrator, Rachael, on 01895 207230 or by email on educationteam@ibblaw.co.uk