A probe into university websites, conducted by consumer watchdog Which?, has found that some universities have failed to ensure their websites contain up-to-date information.

Analysing the information imparted by the websites of 50 UK universities in reference to a psychology undergraduate course starting in 2016/2017, the watchdog found that nearly two in three of universities had breached consumer law by failing to provide information with sufficient accuracy.

Vital information unavailable to prospective students included the number of contact hours, expected workload and even the latest information on fees. Indeed, tuition fees aside, four in five of the probed university websites failed to have any information concerning further fees that many students may not take into account when budgeting for their course, included for the paying of field trips and other essentials that are required for graduation.

Furthermore, Which? found 47 out of 50 universities failed to provide information to help students decide on the course quality, such as contact hours, staff qualifications and exams.

Which? did outline certain universities which they felt had provided necessary information with a high degree of clarity in many of the inspected categories: clear entry requirements; detailed course descriptions; contact hours; expected workload; quality of lectures; fees and extra costs.

Indeed, the University of Cambridge was recognised for the precision with which it provided details of expected workload on the course page including what a typical day will look like for a student on the course.

That came as little consolation to a 2nd year HSPS Selwynite, who pointed out that, as far as describing the expected workload of their students, ‘it isn’t hard for the Cambridge.’ He continued, saying that the website should merely state: ‘cancel your Netflix, learn to like coffee and don’t even think about a social life.’

Cambridge’s workload has been subject to scrutiny over recent months, with a high-profile campaign called #endweekfiveblues gaining notoriety on campus in its call for the addition of a reading week to help alleviate the pressure on students snowed under with work.

This is not the first time that universities have been criticised for fully failing to disclose certain crucial pieces of information. Earlier this year, Varsity reported how some UK universities had drawn fire for refusing to divulge how they spent their income from tuition fees.