An anti-vaxxer was paid compensation by Cardiff University after being kicked off their course for their beliefs.

The student, who was studying a healthcare course, was awarded £9,342 by the university after complaining to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), the highest body that reviews complaints in higher education, about their treatment.

They were told to leave the course a couple of months after starting, when concerns were raised about them carrying out practical work which triggered a “fitness to practise” process.

“The committee concluded that allowing the student to continue on the course would put their health and the health of patients at risk,” the OIA said.

“The student was withdrawn from the course but permitted to transfer to a non-professional programme.” The student had filled in an occupational health questionnaire prior to starting the course, where they had stated that they had not had any vaccinations and would not consent to being vaccinated in the future.

Since Cardiff University administrators did not read through the questionnaire until after the student had been accepted on to the course, the OIA ruled that the student’s complaint was “partly justified”.

The OIA ordered Cardiff University to pay the student £9,342 rather than the £5,000 it had originally offered to pay out.