Tens of thousands more students who studied during the COVID-19 pandemic have joined a group claim seeking compensation. This week, a further 30,000 joined the Student Group Claim, bringing the total close to 200,000 claimants from various UK universities. This surge follows University College London (UCL) confirming a deal with 6,500 former students. These students had sued, arguing they did not get the education they paid for while campuses were closed and teaching moved online. UCL did not admit liability, and settlement terms remain confidential. However, the Financial Times reported receiving an email saying UCL agreed to a £21 million payout. Neither UCL nor student lawyers have confirmed this figure. The reported £21 million settlement may shake the university sector, already facing financial stress. Legal action letters have also gone to 36 universities, including Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Imperial College London, Leeds, Liverpool, and Warwick. Lawyers Shimon Goldwater and Adam Zoubir, representing the students, said, "As the terms of the settlement between the claimants and UCL are confidential, we are unable to make any comment beyond what we have stated previously. However, we can confirm that, since the UCL settlement was announced, approximately 30,000 additional claimants who attended universities during the pandemic have joined Student Group Claim. We continue to advance the next stage of the litigation on behalf of affected students." The legal case rests on consumer law. It stipulates that if a customer pays for a service but receives a lower-value service, they may get compensation. Students paid full tuition fees expecting in-person teaching and full campus access. Instead, courses were held online and campuses shut for long periods. Online degree fees usually cost 25-50% less than in-person courses. Student lawyers believe their clients deserve fair financial compensation for this loss. UCL President Dr. Michael Spence said last week: "Covid-19 created disruption across society, and universities were no exception. Throughout the pandemic we provided clear routes for students to seek redress, and many secured compensation through those established processes. This resolution enables us to focus on our core mission of delivering world-leading research and education."