UNIVERSITIES could be forced to pay compensation totalling hundreds of millions of pounds to students whose education was disrupted by strike action over a pension dispute.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at 64 institutions staged 14 days of strikes over plans by Universities UK to downgrade their pension scheme, which would cost staff £10,000 a year in lost retirement income.

During the walkouts, university authorities had attempted to dissuade lecturers from taking action by warning them that students could sue UCU over the lost tuition time.

Instead, the students, who are liable to pay £9,000 a year in fees, are suing the university authorities.

The strikes were suspended earlier this month pending a re-evaluation of the scheme.

A University and College Union spokesperson said: “While it is up to students whether to seek compensation or not, we prefer that universities remain focused on resolving the core issues in the dispute, since they and future generations will benefit from this.

“We also called on universities to put any money deducted from striking staff into student hardship funds.”

Law firm Asserson said that the universities were responsible for any refunds to students, but so far they have given no indication that they plan to offer compensation.

“This is despite petitions protesting against the loss of lectures and other classes signed by more than 100,000 students, and despite the fact that the universities are holding savings from the salaries  withheld from staff on strike days,” the Asserson website states.

It was revealed over the weekend that 17 Oxford University students will be among those taking legal action against their university.

Each institution could face a bill of up to £10 million, according to Asserson.