Uni complaints in England and Wales hit record high for fourth successive year

In 2022, for the fourth consecutive year, the number of student complaints concerning university courses in England and Wales reached a record high. 

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) received 2,850 complaints, which is 3% more than the previous year, and awarded £1,050,114 in compensation. While Universities UK asserted that most students have positive experiences, almost a quarter of the complaints received in 2022 were related to the pandemic, indicating its continuing impact.

Additionally, academic appeals accounted for 38% of the total complaints, an increase from 29% in 2021, as universities ended policies safeguarding students’ grades from disruption. Meanwhile, complaints about service issues such as teaching represented 38% of the total, a decrease from 45% in the previous year.