Legal action against a University- advice appreciated

[rugpulledfromunderme]

I've namechanged because this will be a total giveaway who I am.

I've been doing a professional postgraduate course that requires workplace placements as part of the course.

I was put into a organisation that had never had a student before and had a terrible time (some MNers were aware of this and were very supportive).

My university tutor removed me from the placment due to 'insufficient learning opportunities' (ie not my fault). I was told I would be put on another placement asap.

I was worried that there wouldn't be time for me to complete this before entering Year 2 but I had a meeting with the head of the department where she assured me I could go back to class with the rest of my cohort.

I've been sent out the timetables and have had the forms to apply for funding sent to me over the summer. I was expecting to start back next week but now suddenly I've been told I have to effectively take a year out to complete my, as yet unstarted, placement.

I am fuming! We live off the (generous) bursary and now suddenly we have no income. Also I now wont qualify for another year so will lose a year's salary too. I cant get a job because I need to be available to do the full time placement which could start at any time. I also wont be able to claim childcare costs for when I am on placment.

I think the University has behaved appalingly and is in breach of the contract they had with me to provide me with a placement during last academic year.

I've been told by the adviser at the student union that their decision is 'unappealable' so I have contacted a lawyer but I'd like to know if any MNers have had similar experiences.

May put this in legal too

[titchy]

You need the Office o the Independent Adjudicator based in Reading I think - google them. You will be expected to have exhausted your university's formal complaints procedure first. No need for solicitor IMO.

[RedHelenB]

Who provides the bursary? Have you spoken to the welfare office? How long will your placement have to last for?

[prh47bridge]

You need to go through your university's formal complaints procedure before doing anything else. Point out that:

• Your tutor removed you from the placement through no fault of your own
  
• The placement was inappropriate
  
• The HoD assured you that you would go back to class with the rest of your cohort, so the university is breaking promises made to you
  
• You will face substantial financial losses if the university sticks to this decision