Minimum service levels could be introduced for university staff, Gillian Keegan has said.
The Education Secretary said the Government would consult on the change, which would ensure that a number of lecturers are required to work during strikes.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) staged a nationwide marking boycott over the summer, but the union has backed away from its plans for a strike over a pay dispute.
Support staff at universities, including IT technicians, administrators and library staff, have also taken part in strike action after rejecting a below-inflation pay deal earlier this year.
At the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Ms Keegan criticised industrial action by teaching staff, claiming it was “outrageous” that students had not received the education they paid for.
The Education Secretary said: “Many will still want to go to university and that will be the right choice for them, and if they do they should get the education that they paid for, that is common sense, right?
“Apparently not, because over recent years we have seen constant strikes, we have students not getting the education they paid for, and some not even having their degrees marked. This is outrageous behaviour.”
She added: “Today, I am announcing that we will consult to introduce minimum service levels in universities, so that they have the tools to make sure that students get the teaching that they deserve.”
The consultation will focus on stronger protections for final year students, key cohorts, and those studying specialist subjects.
