Coronavirus: What will college be like in 2020/21?

Posted On Aug 13, 2020 By admin With Comments Off

There’s been a lot of disorder recently about what we might see happening at universities next year. But you’ll be glad to know that we’ve found out some of the proposed changes…

Woman shocked with emojis

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UPDATE( 14/7/ 20 ): A new survey’s revealed that a big proportion of unis plan to offer some in-person teaching in the autumn term- but some students are worried it’s unsafe. More info here.

Whatever your means are for the next academic year- whether you’re starting uni as a fresher, returning for another year or taking a year out – you won’t be alone in wondering what university will be like in September.

This week, to find out more, we sat down( i.e. had a video call) with a few representatives from Universities UK, an organisation that acts as the collective spokesperson of 137 unis across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Here’s what we found out…

What’s in this guide?

Will university teaching be online in September ? Changes to university housing Students might stay in a protective ‘bubble’ Additional changes to university life Will students receive the same value for fund ?

If you haven’t already, check out our steer to the impact of coronavirus on students for advice on things like accommodation, movement and more.

Will university learn be online in September? woman reading by laptop

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You may have heard reports that teaching at some universities will be delivered online next year, but it’s important to note that many universities are actually planning to offer some years on-campus, too.

Rather than teach alone in-person or entirely online, countless unis are instead considering a ‘blended’ approach to teaching…

What is mixed learning?

Blended learning integrates both online and in-person teaching.

Of course, it’s difficult to know what social distancing evaluates will be in place in September, but it’s unlikely that immense chides packed with consignments of students is still possible. Therefore, it’s probably no bombshell that universities are planning to run chides online in September.

Student Loan interest rates will rise this year

However, it’s starting to look like it could be possible for small-time categories to meet in person as long as social distancing measures are followed.

The extent to which you could expect your course to be taught online and in-person will vary depending on what and where you’re studying. It’s worth getting in touching directly with your uni to get a better idea of how they’ll approach teaching in the new academic year.

For in-person world-class to take place, universities might implement other changes to ensure students are as safe as possible on campus, such as new one-way structures in aisles and security protocols for visitors.

It’s worth noting that, even if your course is educated online next year, it’s been confirmed that you will still need to pay full tuition fees. We look into whether students is likely to be going good value for fund below.

UPDATE- Most universities plan to offer in-person teaching man in library

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A recent informal investigation by Universities UK asked unis if they’re planning to offer some in-person teaching in the autumn call- and a huge proportion confirmed that they are.

Out of the 92 universities that responded to the survey, 89 said that they intend to provide in-person teaching during the first expression of the 2020/21 academic year.

This means that, as 97% of the surveyed unis confirmed this, it looks like the majority of students can expect to have at least some years on campus in September.

Additional contrives by universities for the autumn expression

Many universities likewise plan to offer some support services in-person. These assistances include mental health support, study the expertise and business advice.

87 of the 92 unis in the survey said that they intend to provide these services using a combination of online and in-person assistances. The remaining five plan to offer the services offered online.

And, will there be social opportunities for students? Quite maybe! 78 universities said they plan to offer things like outside happens and sporting activities in-person, in keeping with governments public health guidance.

The survey found that 90% of the unis that responded have communicated their plans to current and prospective students. The remaining 10% should do so very soon.

Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said 😛 TAGEND

Universities across the UK are well advanced in their planning to welcome students this autumn and ensure they can benefit from a high-quality, full and exciting university experience.

Following the latest health guidelines, universities are continuing to develop detailed plans for the new school year and will be regularly updating brand-new and returning students over the coming weeks.

Although their first call will be different from previous years, most students is looking forward to substantial in-person teaching and a wide range of social activities and support services. Universities are committed to providing an committing academic and social experience for all while ensuring the safety and welfare of the whole university community.

Will it be safe for universities to educate face-to-face in September?

The NUS recently queried 1,067 students whether they feel safe returning to university for face-to-face teaching. Now are the key findings from the survey results 😛 TAGEND

Over a third said they wouldn’t feel safe at all with face-to-face teaching in September 2020 13%( less than one in seven) said they wouldn’t feel safe at all with face-to-face teaching in January 2021 22% would feel unusually safe to penetrate/ return to uni accommodation in September Around 90% of students would feel safe if they were educated exclusively online.

Interestingly, if around a third of student wouldn’t feel safe having face-to-face teaching in September, it therefore looks like the majority of students would.

But for those who are worried about in-person contact in the new academic year, the NUS highlights that it’s essential for universities to do what they can to situated students at ease.

Larissa Kennedy, president of the NUS, said 😛 TAGEND

Student safety must be the priority for anyone making decisions as to how campuses are planning to reopen in September.

The government must work with colleges and universities to provide clarity as to how they will stop students safe.

These makes make it clear that many students will be nervous about their return to education and need reassurances that institutions will be acting in their best interests.

How will university passageways vary for social distancing? university halls of residence

Credit: Basher Eyrer – Geograph

For anyone who’s ever lived in hallways, it’s quite difficult to imagine social distancing while living in them. But, we’ve found out about some scheduled changes to university accommodation that could actually allow students to live in them safely despite the pandemic.

Students can expect cleansing in passageways to be stepped up. And, interestingly, a significant change that’s been proposed is a ‘bubble’ approach.

Unsure how to self-isolate in shared housing? Our guide interprets all.

Students might remaining in a protective ‘bubble’

As the word of this approach shows, students is able to be kept in a bubble( metaphorically speaking, certainly ).

One way that this approach could work is that students will be allocated places available in corridors so that they’re living with beings from the same course, minimising the contact the government has beyond a relatively small group.

Discussing the bubble approach, Universities UK said 😛 TAGEND

We know that a number of universities are considering looking at how students can initially live and study with the same group to minimise mixing within the autumn term.

This is just one of many social distancing comings that are being explored across the sector to ensure that universities can protect staff and students while providing in-person teaching where possible. “Hes also” an approaching being explored internationally by countries including New Zealand.

Could it affected life on campus as well?

Across the sector there is work to consider how to enable in-person activities. This includes timetable revisions and using the estate differently to maximise capacity while social distancing measures are in place.

The approachings will rightly vary depending on the geographical location, student desegregate, types of courses- and […] the social distancing requirements may well change in advance of the start of term which would make a significant difference.

Example of colleges and universities consuming the bubble coming colourful bubbles

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While it’s not yet been confirmed how many universities will use the bubble approaching, one uni that’s corroborated they will is Staffordshire University.

As well as locating students from the same course together in accommodation, Staffordshire University are also planning to offer areas in vestibules to fewer students- in fact, merely two-thirds of their halls will be occupied.

To placed that into context, their biggest student swamps often house 12 beings, but next year, they will merely include eight.

Here’s how much uni expenses you per hour

While this, of course, develops very concerned about where students will live if they don’t get places in vestibules, Staffordshire University do say on their website that, if students can’t get places in vestibules, other adaptation will be organised with trusted providers.

Professor Liz Barnes, Vice-Chancellor at Staffordshire University, said 😛 TAGEND

The health and wellbeing of our university community ought to have our key priorities and in common with other universities throughout the sector, we are creating a framework in which students can live and study in encouraging learning environment which limits the risk of infection.

At the same time we have to ensure a first class university experience and that is still our intention.

Additional an amendment of university life in September UCL campus

Credit: Neil Turner – Flickr

There’s more to uni life than just where you live and what you learn- so what other alters will universities represent in September?

For starters, it’s been suggested that freshers’ week will gaze very different from previous years. It was possible that your university renders occasions online, or there may be an attempt to run some happenings in person if the group sizes are small enough to allow for social distancing.

Also, students could still be able to sign up for societies in welcome week.

In periods of socialising, though, the rules at uni will be the same as elsewhere and you’ll be expected to follow the government’s guidelines.

And, as for other deepens, Universities UK commit detailed guidance for unis here. Among this advice, there are suggestions that universities 😛 TAGEND

Ensure students can access support services, particularly for mental health Take action to prevent feelings of loneliness and solitude among students and staff Support students who experience ‘digital poverty'( a lack of technology) Help all the persons who don’t providing access to a good study opening at home.

Will students receive the same value for coin? money in a purse

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As we mentioned earlier, it’s been confirmed that tuition fees will remain the same in the next academic year, even if teach remains online.

We wanted to know how students felt about this. So, between 15 th May- 3rd June 2020, we partnered up with MoneyMagpie to ask almost 1,000 students about their meditates on the impact of COVID-1 9 on their studies.

In the survey, we questioned students if they foresee tuition fees should be lowered to reflect reduced contact experience and increased online discover parts. The answers were 😛 TAGEND

87.4% think they should be lowered 6.4% are unsure 6.3% think they should stay the same.

It’s a pretty big majority who ponder tuition fees should go down…

We questioned Universities UK what suggestion they’d have for students who are concerned they won’t receive the same value for money for their unit, given the projected alters. They said 😛 TAGEND

New and returning students can trust that universities will be providing high-quality, accessible and involving teaching and learning this autumn.

Universities will provide as much in-person learning, schooling, support services and extra-curricular acts as public health advice and government counseling will support.

Although it is likely that there will be some changes to how a degree is delivered initially because of public health requirements, we are hopeful that this will only be the case for a small part of students’ time at university.

Where support for learning is active and ongoing, UUK please explain that students shall not be required to be expect any cost rebate from their university, and this has been confirmed by the Universities Minister on several occasions.

To students who are unhappy with the quality of education at uni, Universities UK suggest 😛 TAGEND

Students who are not satisfied with the support they are getting should make this known to their university in the first instance. UK universities are totally committed to providing students the world class university experience that they need to succeed and for which our universities are renowned globally.

If you do wish to complain and potentially seek compensation over the quality of your position, check out our full steer for more info.

As the situation’s constantly evolving and brand-new info’s been announced by universities since our overlook( particularly about face-to-face teaching returning ), we’d expect students’ goals to have changed.

If you’re heading to uni in September, make sure you have a read through our ‘what to take to university‘ checklist.