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Shocked at the quality of my uni course pls help!

Hi guys, I’m doing an online MSc Psychology (Conversion) at a Nottingham University - a Russell Group uni and I’m really struggling with the quality of the course.
The lecture slides are extremely basic with barely any information.
The recorded lectures are clearly reused from previous years and often have poor sound, long pauses, or low effort delivery.
Lecturers mostly just read from the slides and don’t explain concepts in depth, so I don’t feel like I’m actually learning master’s-level content.
The online platform is messy, confusing, and hard to navigate assignments, readings, and key information aren’t clearly laid out.
There have been incorrect dates and organisational errors, and faulty links.
Some links/files are missing, and there are accessibility issues that they have said "A review to improve the accessibility of learning materials within this module is in progress. We are working to ensure that the resources in this module can be used by people of all abilities. This might include reformatting text and images, adding captions to videos, and ensuring the content is easy to navigate." which feels unfair that we are having to wait around while the improve these things.
I have ADHD and at first I thought the issues were just me, but after speaking to other students, many are experiencing the same problems.
The workload feels like a full-time course even though it’s meant to be part-time, the advertiment of the course states "flexible" but with all the extra work you have to put in to navigate the course and even just find things, combined with teaching yourself most of the content due to the little infomation in the videos feels way too overwhelming.
I’m emotionally drained and not confident I’m gaining the knowledge I’m paying for.
I’ve emailed the university to raise these concerns, and waiting on a response but I’m now looking for advice on whether I can ask for a partial tuition fee reduction, refund, or any form of compensation, given that the course quality doesn’t match what was advertised.
Does anyone have any advice?

Reply 1

Talk to the SU at the university, they are an excellent source of independent advice and it's their job to represent students in this sort of thing

Reply 2

Original post
by princesspeach619
Hi guys, I’m doing an online MSc Psychology (Conversion) at a Nottingham University - a Russell Group uni and I’m really struggling with the quality of the course.
The lecture slides are extremely basic with barely any information.
The recorded lectures are clearly reused from previous years and often have poor sound, long pauses, or low effort delivery.
Lecturers mostly just read from the slides and don’t explain concepts in depth, so I don’t feel like I’m actually learning master’s-level content.
The online platform is messy, confusing, and hard to navigate assignments, readings, and key information aren’t clearly laid out.
There have been incorrect dates and organisational errors, and faulty links.
Some links/files are missing, and there are accessibility issues that they have said "A review to improve the accessibility of learning materials within this module is in progress. We are working to ensure that the resources in this module can be used by people of all abilities. This might include reformatting text and images, adding captions to videos, and ensuring the content is easy to navigate." which feels unfair that we are having to wait around while the improve these things.
I have ADHD and at first I thought the issues were just me, but after speaking to other students, many are experiencing the same problems.
The workload feels like a full-time course even though it’s meant to be part-time, the advertiment of the course states "flexible" but with all the extra work you have to put in to navigate the course and even just find things, combined with teaching yourself most of the content due to the little infomation in the videos feels way too overwhelming.
I’m emotionally drained and not confident I’m gaining the knowledge I’m paying for.
I’ve emailed the university to raise these concerns, and waiting on a response but I’m now looking for advice on whether I can ask for a partial tuition fee reduction, refund, or any form of compensation, given that the course quality doesn’t match what was advertised.
Does anyone have any advice?

Hey @princesspeach619 , thank you for this and it is good you shared all of this.

I would definitely advise that you keep what you are doing but escalate it.

Since you have emailed them, wait for their response but prepare to escalate if needed:

1.

Collect evidence - screenshots of errors, dated links, missing files, poor slides and reused lectures.

2.

Speak to course reps or your student union - they can support your complaint.

3.

Submit a formal complaint, not just an email - universities respond very differently to official complaints.

4.

If there is no change, continue escalating it

You are not at all being dramatic, if anything you are being reasonable.

My overall advice:

Give the university a chance to respond

Be prepared to file a formal complaint immediately

Involve the Student Union, they are powerful in these cases


You are completely justified in taking this further. I hope this helps and all the best!

Ru
BCU student rep.

Reply 3

Original post
by Daniel - UOS
Talk to the SU at the university, they are an excellent source of independent advice and it's their job to represent students in this sort of thing
thank you that’s super helpful, i will do so and hope for the best!

Reply 4

Original post
by BCU Student Rep
Hey @princesspeach619 , thank you for this and it is good you shared all of this.
I would definitely advise that you keep what you are doing but escalate it.
Since you have emailed them, wait for their response but prepare to escalate if needed:

1.

Collect evidence - screenshots of errors, dated links, missing files, poor slides and reused lectures.

2.

Speak to course reps or your student union - they can support your complaint.

3.

Submit a formal complaint, not just an email - universities respond very differently to official complaints.

4.

If there is no change, continue escalating it

You are not at all being dramatic, if anything you are being reasonable.
My overall advice:

Give the university a chance to respond

Be prepared to file a formal complaint immediately

Involve the Student Union, they are powerful in these cases


You are completely justified in taking this further. I hope this helps and all the best!
Ru
BCU student rep.
thank you so much, again very helpful advice, i didn’t think to contact the student union! i’ll update with any responses if needed thank you
Does your course or department have a student rep? They are a good way to collate and feedback the feelings of many students.

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