Consumer protection for students

How to complain

If you think that your university or college is not doing what it should under consumer law, you should always start by raising a concern through your university or college’s internal complaints process.

If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can raise the matter with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA).

You may also send a notification to the Office for Students. Notifications can relate to the issues we regulate, and we consider them as part of our ongoing monitoring activity.

What types of issues may raise concern about consumer protection?

  • False advertising or misrepresentation
  • Unfair terms and conditions in contracts
  • Failure to meet contractual commitments to students
  • Contract cheating and essay mills
  • Signing students up to ‘bogus degrees’ or to study at ‘bogus universities’
Published 30 July 2024

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