The High Court has dismissed a University of Bristol appeal over a ruling that it contributed to the death of a disabled student who took her own life.
Physics student Natasha Abrahart, who suffered severe social anxiety, died in April 2018 on the day she was due to give an oral presentation to students in a 329-seat lecture theatre.
In May 2022, Ms Abrahart's parents successfully sued the university, with Bristol County Court finding it contributed to her death by discriminating against her on the grounds of her disability.
It found the university breached its obligations under the Equalities Act to make "reasonable adjustments" to the way Natasha was assessed and was ordered to pay more than £50,000 in damages and funeral costs.
The court previously heard Ms Abrahart, 20, had made another suicide attempt in the winter term and that university staff were aware she was struggling.
Mr Justice Linden ruled on Wednesday that the university had failed on all seven of its grounds of appeal.
He said Natasha was "very much under pressure to attend the interviews at the presentation [on the day of her death]".
Natasha's father, Bob Abrahart, had issued a cross-appeal that the university had a duty of care to Natasha, but the judge said it was "not necessary" for him to "express any view, one way or the other".
Mr Abrahart and his wife Maggie want the government to bring in a statutory duty of care for universities towards their students.
Speaking outside court, he told Sky News that universities had also been "ignoring part of the Equality Act, disadvantaging students - disabled students".
He said that, following the ruling, "they now know they will be liable if they break the law".
