Former research student Dr Vishal Vora won £20k compensation from SOAS over a claim for no support in his doctoral studies.

It wasn't an easy battle (spanning around six years and three formal complaints) but in the end SOAS settled the legal claim, paying up in full, with interest. They refunded all tuition fees, paid compensation of £5k and even included costs. SOAS' own internal investigation recommended that the director, Valerie Amos, issued Dr Vora a formal apology, but so far, she is refusing to do so. Bizarrely, despite the settlement SOAS refuses to accept liability even though they did not defend the claim.

Not issuing an apology in these circumstances is nothing short of arrogant. It symbolises how students are simply an inconvenience to the management. Students are meant to be the lifeblood of any academic organisation. 

Given the large numbers of students coming forward with alarmingly similar complaints, from across departments, the institution needs to be held to account. 

For further information see the following articles:

1) https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/soas-pay-former-student-ps20k-over-no-supervision-phd 

2) https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/how-deal-inadequate-phd-supervision

3) https://soasspirit.co.uk/news/soas-2000-phd-compensation-student-calls-for-student-action/ 

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