University students angered at days lost due to striking lecturers are being encouraged to join a litigation funder-backed class action claim against the relevant institutions.

So far, students have lost a total of 14 days of teaching at more than 60 universities across the UK as lecturers strike in a row over their pensions. Further strikes remain a possibility as an agreement has yet to be reached.

London law firm Asserson, which is organising the claim and has set-up a dedicated website, said a claim would be brought against the universities by way of a group litigation order. Students affected by the strikes could each be entitled to hundreds of pounds of compensation, it added.

According to Asserson, the universities who are responsible for any ‘refunds’ to students have so far given no indication that they plan to offer compensation.

The firm says it is seeking the support of a litigation funder for the claim. It was unable to provide further details to the Gazette.

Meanwhile, consumer and human rights firm Leigh Day has also said it is investigating potential action on behalf of students. It said universities could be liable for claims from ‘potentially hundreds of thousands of affected students totalling millions of pounds’.

Chris Haan from the consumer rights team at Leigh Day said the firm was planning to act against the universities involved for breach of contract and under the Consumer Rights Act over missed teaching time.