Record numbers of students are lodging complaints against universities as more undergraduates demand top degree grades in return for a hike in tuition fees.
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| Rising numbers of students have lodged complaints with the Office for the Independent Adjudicator over degree grades. |
Figures from the higher education standards watchdog show that more than 2,000
students submitted official objections last year – up by a quarter in just
12 months and a four-fold rise in the last seven years.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator said that the vast majority of
complaints related to students’ overall degree classification and failure to
progress onto the next year of the course.
Officials insisted that the data reflected the “importance to students” of
achieving a top degree – a first or upper-second.
The rise is believed to be driven by an increase in the cost of a degree, with
students demanding better value for money for a rise in fees.
It comes after a study last year found that a 2:1 remained the “most common
selection criteria” used by graduate employers, with 76 per cent screening
out candidates with a 2:2 or worse. Students with a good degree now earn an
average of £2,000-a-year more than those with a 2:2, it emerged.
According to the OIA, more students also complained that they had been
“misled” by university marketing campaigns before taking up a course –
emphasising the competition between institutions to attract students.
The OIA insisted that complaints are set to soar further in coming years after annual tuition fees almost tripled to £9,000 for the first time last September.
David Willetts, the Universities Minister, has told academics to guard against grade inflation simply because students are paying more money for a course.
Speaking last year, he said institutions had to prioritise “academic integrity” and resist pressure to mark up students’ work.
But Ram Gidoomal, the regulator’s chairman, said: “The expectation is that higher tuition fees will lead to more complaints. The increase will undoubtedly provide major challenges for universities, students’ unions and the OIA.”
According to the OIA’s annual report, some 2,012 complaints were lodged in 2012, compared with 1,605 a year earlier. In 2005, just 542 complaints were made.
Despite the rise, only 18 per cent of cases were found in students’ favour, with the vast majority rendered “not justified”.
Almost seven-in-10 complaints related to “academic status”, including appeals, course progression and grades, even though the OIA insists it cannot intervene in issues of academic judgement.
Plagiarism cases accounted for six per cent of total complaints – the same as last year. It is believed that many students are turning to the official regulator for help after being marked down or even expelled from courses for copying work.
One case involved cheating by academics, with the OIA insisting that universities should apply "the same rigour to addressing allegations of plagiarism by academic staff as they apply to allegations against students".
The OIA also warned that the “accuracy of information provided to students” was becoming a major issue for universities and the government.
In one case, a student on a specialist MBA course received a partial fee refund and compensation after work placements promised in a brochure were not delivered.
Another group of three students claimed £500 compensation and a refund after complaining that “teaching, content, delivery and learning experience was not delivered”.
“Universities spend a great deal of money on marketing,” the OIA said. “The competition between universities to attract students through prospectuses and marketing has led to cases where students have successfully complained that they have been misled.”
Prof Eric Thomas, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of Bristol, said: “While there has been a net increase in the number of complaints, we must not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of students are satisfied and satisfaction rates across universities remain high.
“The increase in fees means that students are clearly demanding more from their universities. The important thing is ensuring that students have enough information about their courses and that the experience matches their expectations.”
The OIA insisted that complaints are set to soar further in coming years after annual tuition fees almost tripled to £9,000 for the first time last September.
David Willetts, the Universities Minister, has told academics to guard against grade inflation simply because students are paying more money for a course.
Speaking last year, he said institutions had to prioritise “academic integrity” and resist pressure to mark up students’ work.
But Ram Gidoomal, the regulator’s chairman, said: “The expectation is that higher tuition fees will lead to more complaints. The increase will undoubtedly provide major challenges for universities, students’ unions and the OIA.”
According to the OIA’s annual report, some 2,012 complaints were lodged in 2012, compared with 1,605 a year earlier. In 2005, just 542 complaints were made.
Despite the rise, only 18 per cent of cases were found in students’ favour, with the vast majority rendered “not justified”.
Almost seven-in-10 complaints related to “academic status”, including appeals, course progression and grades, even though the OIA insists it cannot intervene in issues of academic judgement.
Plagiarism cases accounted for six per cent of total complaints – the same as last year. It is believed that many students are turning to the official regulator for help after being marked down or even expelled from courses for copying work.
One case involved cheating by academics, with the OIA insisting that universities should apply "the same rigour to addressing allegations of plagiarism by academic staff as they apply to allegations against students".
The OIA also warned that the “accuracy of information provided to students” was becoming a major issue for universities and the government.
In one case, a student on a specialist MBA course received a partial fee refund and compensation after work placements promised in a brochure were not delivered.
Another group of three students claimed £500 compensation and a refund after complaining that “teaching, content, delivery and learning experience was not delivered”.
“Universities spend a great deal of money on marketing,” the OIA said. “The competition between universities to attract students through prospectuses and marketing has led to cases where students have successfully complained that they have been misled.”
Prof Eric Thomas, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of Bristol, said: “While there has been a net increase in the number of complaints, we must not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of students are satisfied and satisfaction rates across universities remain high.
“The increase in fees means that students are clearly demanding more from their universities. The important thing is ensuring that students have enough information about their courses and that the experience matches their expectations.”
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