STUDENTS are calling for refunds on study time they have lost due to lecturers striking.

Up to 500 lecturers at Essex University are on strike at the Colchester campus.

The University and College Union is in dispute over proposed changes to pensions covered by the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

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Students are now saying they want to be paid back for the time they had lost on their studies.

One third year psychology student said: "I understand why lecturers are striking and it isn’t fair they’ve had pensions cut, but the main argument I have is that we students are paying for a service and with these lecturers not getting paid, we don’t understand where this money has gone and why we can’t get it back?

"For me I’ve worked out I’ve lost £300 worth of lectures, not including supervisor time, and the response from the university has simply been we aren’t giving a refund, without a real explanation."

The Gazette has seen an email response from Richard Stock, Academic Registrar, confirming refunds will not be made.

Students said heads of departments were not understanding how the strikes have affected deadlines.

One student said: "I am still missing the result of my January Culture and Psychology exam, despite there being many weeks prior to the strike that every other lecturer managed to fully mark their exam papers in.

"There is a weekly participation question to answer, worth 5 per cent of the module - the strike has made these impossible to complete.

"As a third year dissertation student I am in a pure panic about the consequences this industrial action will have on the outcome of my degree, and while I support the cause of the strike, I do not think punishing students fair.

"I have not had a single lecture since the beginning of the strike and I have missed out on £613 worth of lectures."

A university spokesman said: “Ensuring our students receive a high-quality educational experience is of paramount importance to us.

"It is our intention that the overall impact of the strike action on their learning is as minimal as possible and all of their intended learning outcomes are met.

"We are committed to ensuring students are still able to access the wealth of materials on offer to support their education and they will be fairly and properly assessed.

"It is for these reasons that we will not be making any refund payments.”