UK students who made complaints were given around £1.8m in compensation in 2025 from universities and other higher education institutions.
Complaints about bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and disability support were among the issues raised, according to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator’s annual report.
It’s the second-highest sum recorded by the ombudsman in its 21-year history, only topped by last year’s figure of £2.4m.
Students were offered £875,933 by providers after a recommendation from the ombudsman and £962,979 as part of a settlement.
The biggest single payments were £38,000 as part of a settlement and £15,600 in a recommendation.
Partial tuition fee refunds were included in many of the bigger payouts, while others were for disappointment or distress and inconvenience caused.
The ombudsman’s report also referenced the ongoing row around student loans, particularly the repayment terms for plan 2 loans.
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