Rhiannon is a student at St Andrews
College college students have been telling the BBC how they have been solely informed that almost all of their programs within the coming time period might be taught on-line after paying a whole lot of kilos for lodging removed from residence.
Sara is a 3rd yr student from Leeds, finding out worldwide improvement at King’s School London, at a value of £9,250 for the yr. She says she was informed her course could be utterly on-line this time period on 1 September – the day she started paying nearly £3,000 for her lodging.
Sara moved residence to Leeds in March, at first of lockdown, She says she has hardly had any lectures since February, when college workers went on strike.
In an electronic mail, seen by the BBC, she was then informed “all educating for closing yr college students” might be on-line this time period – together with seminars and dissertation supervisions. In-person educating in her second time period “will depend upon the Covid-19 state of affairs nearer to the time”.
It is left her feeling short-changed. “If I knew that we have been going to be on-line for the primary semester I would not have gotten lodging for this time period at all,” Sara says.
She says she’s had little steering about what campus life will appear like and whether or not she might want to – or have the ability to – spend any time there.
“Do I must be in London or not? Do I must go in or not? There isn’t any level in [just] sitting in my home,” she says. “I do suppose there needs to be some form of discount with all the pieces on-line. You continue to get an training however they need to scale back the quantity you are paying.”
The College of St Andrews additionally introduced on the finish of August that some programs could be totally on-line within the first seven weeks of time period.
Many college students transferring into halls for their first yr had already signed their contracts by the point the announcement was made, whereas many second and third yr college students in personal lodging signed contracts months in the past.
Lottie, a third-year student in philosophy and historical past of artwork, says the college had initially inspired college students to return to the city.
“In June or July, they mentioned that all college students ought to plan to come back again to St Andrews at first of time period and it might be twin educating – all the pieces they may do in particular person they might do, with the remainder on-line.
“They did say they might give individuals the choice to review utterly on-line from residence, however if you utilized to try this you wanted to have a particular purpose.”
Rhiannon, one other student at St Andrews finding out worldwide relations, is paying £525 a month for a room in a shared home.
“Our home has been empty since March. I’d have stayed at residence, and cancelled my rental contract. I truly tried to barter with my landlord in June due to the uncertainty and the owner was utterly rigid.”
The College of St Andrews blamed the sudden change on elevated student numbers this yr.
“The late modifications to the way in which A-level and Increased examination outcomes have been calculated have obliged us to confess considerably extra entrants than would in any other case have been the case,” Principal Sally Mapstone said in a letter to staff and students.
“Our educating preparations are vastly essential, however we are additionally focusing extraordinarily carefully on security past the classroom, and the way we help and make sure the secure behaviour of our student neighborhood on the town.”
King’s School London informed the BBC it was “prioritising the security of our college students and workers, by creating a versatile method to the beginning of the brand new educational yr”.
“The place doable, and it’s secure to take action, we are planning for some small group educating to happen on campus,” the college mentioned.
College students at a number of different universities have additionally contacted the BBC with related tales. One mentioned she solely discovered her course had moved on-line 4 days after her enrolment.
Universities UK, which represents 137 universities within the UK, mentioned it anticipated the overwhelming majority of universities to retain some in-person educating. “A latest survey by UUK recommended that 97% of respondents are planning some in-person educating for the brand new educational yr consistent with authorities and public well being steering.
“As well as, the overwhelming majority are offering some in-person social actions and help and wellbeing. Most college students will expertise a blended supply of on-line and in-person underpinned by a security first method,” it mentioned.
However the Nationwide Union of College students known as on universities to be “trustworthy and clear concerning the practicality of research resuming” and to “present help with housing, funds, digital studying, help companies and transport if circumstances change”.
NUS president Larissa Kennedy mentioned authorities officers wanted to supply a “larger package deal of monetary help for student renters – a lot of whom have struggled to pay lease and fallen into arrears.”
