Can you get a refund if university fails to deliver?

Increased tuition fees are likely to result in more students claiming compensation when courses are not up to standard.

Courses that are sub-standard, lecturers who don't turn up, supervision that doesn't materialise ... now that students will be paying up to £9,000 a year, will they be able to demand their money back if university fails to deliver?
If a product doesn't live up to expectations, if it's not of merchantable quality, then consumers have rights to ask for their money back under the Sale of Goods Act. But what if you are paying for a course that didn't live up to expectations? Already, officials in the university sector are preparing for an increase in complaints from heavily-indebted consumers of education who feel they didn't get what was promised.

First, it's important to remember that students are not buying a degree. They pay for services and facilities (tuition, libraries) which enable them to study and complete a course to...

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Clegg defends Liberal Democrats' role in coalition

Nick Clegg has defended the Liberal Democrats' role in coalition government as his party remains under fire over controversial education proposals.

He told the Independent on Sunday that he had no regrets about forming a government with the Conservatives.

He said: "I'm absolutely convinced that almost any other course of action would have been a disaster for the country."

MPs vote this Thursday on university tuition fees. The Lib Dems had opposed higher fees before entering government.

The party has been the focus of some of the protests in recent weeks involving tens of thousands of students opposed to the coalition government's proposals.

Despite the current difficulties facing his party, Mr Clegg believes their participation in government will lead to an...

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