Student payout 'will open floodgates'

Mr Austen's case may have wider implications

The case of a law student who was awarded £30,000 after complaining about the standards of teaching at his university could open the floodgates for other students to do the same, lawyers warned.

Mike Austen, 54, was awarded £30,000 from the University of Wolverhampton in an out-of-court settlement after complaining of poor standards of teaching and student services.

Students need to know they have consumer rights and remedies if things go wrong

Jaswinder Gill, education lawyer and author

Lawyers said his case would raise awareness among the student population that they had a right to expect high standards from universities, especially as they were now paying towards the cost of tuition.

Education lawyer and author Jaswinder Gill said students needed to know that they had "consumer rights and remedies" if things went wrong.

Mr Gill, who advised Mr Austen over his case, said the problem was often a lack of accountability on the part of universities.

"Historically they see themselves as bodies which are not challengable - they're almost a law unto themselves, able to do whatever they like," said Mr Gill.

"And so they find it difficult to accept that the quality of standards is being questioned by students, even if they have a genuine case."

Mr Gill said cases like Mr Austen's would help raise standards in education, as universities would feel obliged to "get their houses in order".

Spreading the word

Mr Austen himself said he had spoken openly about his case because he wanted to encourage other students in a similar position.

Mike Austen settled out of court but was prepared to go all the way

"So many suffer exactly what I did, but they're not all 54-year-old former airline pilots studying for a law degree," he said.

"They duck their heads down and bite the bullet because they don't know what their rights are.

"I think they need to know that they can get legal representation and get legal aid - they've got the right to go to court."

After three court hearings, the University of Wolverhampton settled out of court.

But Mr Austen, who had represented himself for those hearings, was on the point of applying for legal aid to be represented by Mr Gill.

More funding

The university umbrella group - Universities UK - said it would not comment on individual cases, but said an additional investment of £5.1bn was needed for the higher education teaching and learning infrastructure.

The group is calling on the government for an investment of £9.94bn in higher education over three years.

"What is of concern to all universities is ensuring that our students, whatever their background, have a high quality experience," a spokesman said.

"For the vast majority of students this is the case."