Dear Senior Management Team,

We are writing to you as a united cohort, in light of the University’s decision to repeal refund payments to all students impacted by the cancellation of field trips.

On 02/09/20, the following reasons were provided for the repeal:

i. appropriate alternative measures were put in place to ensure that you were not disadvantaged academically (there was a virtual replacement field trip on every programme)

ii. you were still able to meet the learning outcomes for the module

iii. you have been enabled to progress towards meeting your qualifications without undue delay

We do not consider these as just or sufficient grounds for the decision to repeal refund payments.

Whilst we appreciate the provision of a ‘Virtual Field Trip’, it did not amount to a sufficient academic substitute. Despite the University’s claims to the contrary, we believe that the learning outcomes of the Opportunities module (REMF56) were collectively impacted. Critically, it is the students, not the University, who have borne this academic cost of degraded learning.

Moreover, notwithstanding the academic impact, the University has failed to deliver a service which a portion of our tuition fees was intended for. When paying for a service, academic or otherwise, this type of omission is grounds for a refund. Indeed, the field trip constitutes a core attraction of the MSc Real Estate, bolstering the real-word, industry-facing nature of the programme.

Lastly, the lack and contradictory nature of communications regarding our field trip refunds has been unacceptable. It has been 5 months since the University agreed in principal to make a refund payment to all students impacted by the cancellation of field trips. Until 02/09/20, all indications were that this decision would be upheld, either by email or verbal discussions. Indeed, in the intervening period, the Business School has repeatedly contacted Senior Management to confirm a payment date. Thus, the University’s decision to repeal refund payments is at odds with all prior communications, constituting an unjust reversal of intent.

We believe that these failures can only be corrected through a refund policy amounting to the total cost of flights and accommodation for each student.

Should the University fail to satisfy the demands contained within this letter, the undersigned may be forced into alternative forms of resolution. These include, but are not limited to, legal action against the University.

Signed: The Student Staff Liaison Committee and co-signers