A: Universities recognise that students are concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on their studies. But on October 7, the University of Manchester (UoM) and MMU moved all teaching online after young people accounted for 55% of Covid-19 cases. Register. This data is available for all petitions on the site. Whether or not an individual student is entitled to a refund of fees will depend on the specific contractual arrangements between the provider and student. Whether students in England should receive a fees … Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. Refunds only available ‘if the quality isn’t there’, says minister Universities will be flexible in their approach and take these decisions locally, so that they reflect the variation between different degree programmes and curricula. 40 UK universities report Covid-19 cases. At least 32 universities in the UK now have confirmed cases of COVID-19, and another one has suspected cases. There are some fantastic and innovative examples of high-quality online learning being delivered by HE providers across the country. Universities are working hard to ensure as many students as possible can continue with their studies, access alternative forms of teaching, and are able to demonstrate – and feel confident – that they have met all the required learning outcomes. The CHF is a University-wide scheme designed to support students whose financial situation has been affected by the pandemic. 2020/21 academic year. 1001127, A Company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales Company No. The sector has put in significant resources and worked hard to provide and prepare learning materials for this academic year. The Government will continue to work closely with the QAA to ensure students continue to leave HE with qualifications that have real value, reflect their hard work and allow people to progress. As students will be receiving our blended learning Educational Model this academic year with a mix of on and off campus learning and access to a wide range of student services and University facilities, we will not be offering tuition fee refunds. A: For degrees accredited and regulated by PSRBs there may be separate requirements that students must usually meet, and it is not always within the power of individual universities to alter these. If the student is not happy with the result, they can take their complaint to the Covid-19 and UK universities: international updates and FAQs Last updated: 6 January 2021 This page addresses queries about the way the Covid-19 outbreak is affecting the international work of UK universities, their international students, staff and partners and international students looking to study in the UK in the near future. Members’ pay consultation 3-30 Nov – find out more COVID-19 advice for university staff – find out more We represent higher education members employed by universities directly, or who work for a contractor supplying services. Farage demands 'imprisoned' students get 30% reduction on tuition fees amid COVID-19 chaos NIGEL FARAGE has unleashed a scathing attack on the UK Government's treatment of university … ... the University of Essex has reported Covid-19 clusters linked to sports teams. Students should get the chance to experience university life in full, with access to societies, opportunities and chances to network. Are universities going to cancel exams, in the same way that A-level exams have been cancelled? UUK has welcomed further details of the Turing Scheme for students to work and study abroad. that is shared on the site is that of the petition creator. Government has previously responded to a petition concerning tuition fee refunds for both COVID-19 disruption and strike action. A: Universities are doing all they can to ensure that all assessments are fair and follow official guidelines. We believe that students should be at the heart of the HE system. Further information can be found on our Module Enrolment and Covid-19 Arrangements statement. UK higher education has received clarity, of sorts, via the government’s sector support package. During the initial COVID-19 lockdown classes and exams took place entirely online to halt the disease’s spread. Government set to cap university admissions amid Covid-19 chaos. COVID-19: Lockdowns and 'downbeat' end to 2020 see UK on course for double-dip recession "It's not worth the risks of coming in for face-to-face teaching," university … Read the full statement from Universities UK on this question. Major efforts are being made by university staff to ensure that course modules can be completed, resources can be accessed, exams and assessments can proceed where appropriate, and qualifications can be awarded. Finally, Government has worked with the OfS to enable providers to draw upon existing funding to increase hardship funds and support disadvantaged students impacted by COVID-19. Universities also continue to provide careers advice and support for mental health and wellbeing. Students with questions should go their university's dedicated webpages about coronavirus. The Government’s expectation is that quality and academic standards must be maintained, and the OfS has made it clear that all HE providers must continue to comply with registration conditions relating to quality and standards, which set out requirements to ensure that courses are high quality, students are supported and achieve good outcomes, and standards are protected. This has also been made clear in an online The University has set up two financial support schemes for students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. News; Education; Exclusive Covid-19 outbreaks risk stoking tensions between students and university staff Students feel deeply aggrieved at having to spend thousands of pounds on tuition fees … ... fees. Depending on the health advice, universities will have contingencies in place to support all students to continue their studies, either remotely or in person. What is the COVID-19 Hardship Fund? All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/302855. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. It is up to universities to decide an approach to assessments that is most suitable under the circumstances. Some 1,700 Manchester Metropolitan University students are among those who have been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days following a spike in … The Universities UK Email web editor. University students are entitled to tuition fee refunds due to Covid-19 disruption, the Government has said. Universities will follow the guidance of established bodies, such as the Quality Assurance Agency. The university complaints watchdog has published details on some of the Covid-19 complaints it has received from students, revealing it has generally not recommended tuition fee refunds. Students who have difficulty continuing with their learning, perhaps because of illness, caring responsibilities or lack of access to IT, or who are not satisfied with the alternative provision and support they are getting, should make this known to their university in the first instance. Quality Assurance Agency website. In Manchester, students at residential halls at Manchester Metropolitan University have to self-isolate for 14 days after 127 tested positive for COVID-19. More than 640 coronavirus cases have been identified among students and staff since universities reopened, according to data collected by Sky News up to 27 September. Is the University planning to offer tuition fee refunds considering the Covid-19 pandemic? Universities are autonomous and responsible for setting their own fees, up to a maximum of £9,250 for Approved (fee cap) providers. What happens to assessments for professional qualifications? Answers to common questions about tuition, assessments and grading during the Covid-19 pandemic. During this unprecedented period, where it is not possible to provide face-to-face learning in a COVID-secure environment, we expect HE providers to offer high-quality online education that allows students to progress and to complete their studies within the time period they had been anticipating. If a student at a provider in England or Wales is not satisfied with their provider’s response, they can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) to consider their complaint. A: Yes, the UNISON is one of the largest unions in the higher education sector, supporting 50,000 members working in universities. Universities recognise the exceptional circumstances in which students are being taught and assessed but they need to ensure that for those individuals graduating or progressing with their studies this year, the qualifications they are awarded hold their value and meet the requirements of accrediting bodies. Government has previously responded to a petition concerning tuition fee refunds for both COVID-19 disruption and strike action. The Office for Students (OfS), the regulator in England, has committed to protecting students throughout the present crisis whilst ensuring that quality and standards are upheld. COVID-19: University students could be eligible for compensation for lost teaching time ... from UK and around world. Coronavirus (COVID-19) - information for universities, Student Loans Company has confirmed, Office of the Independent Adjudicator in England and Wales. Where there is wide-ranging support for active and ongoing learning and progression, students should not expect any fee refund from their university. UK universities hit by COVID-19 outbreak fallout Students at the Wills Memorial Building, part of the University of Bristol, on May 16, 2019. Universities are doing what they can to ensure nobody misses out on teaching because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and can discuss arrangements with students who are not able to use or access alternative course materials and teaching. Will students get their next student loan and maintenance loan payment? The UK Government should care because thousands of UK and international students studying in the UK are going to be going into debt for an education that might not be worth the amount of money universities are asking for. Office of the Independent Adjudicator in England and Wales, the How are students without internet access, or those who have disabilities or care responsibilities being helped to access learning and continue studying? COVID-19 Financial support. Many benefits of attending University have been taken away by Covid-19, there is so much more to University than the academic side. We expect student complaints and appeals processes to be operated flexibly, accessibly, and sympathetically by providers to resolve any concerns. FAQ by the Department for Education. Vice-Chancellors are under pressure … Universities will be doing everything they can to make sure that no new or continuing student misses out next academic year and public health advice will play a role in decisions about when and in what form – whether online, in person or a combination of the two – the next academic year begins. There are numerous families that have had their lives shattered, and the health and social impacts of the pandemic are likely to persist long into the future. Higher education regulation in the devolved nations, England and Wales: Office of the Independent Adjudicator Scotland: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, UK Department for Education FAQ for University Students. Manchester Metropolitan University has asked around 1,700 students to self-isolate after 127 cases … University students and COVID-19 FAQ Posted by: robynmeadwell , Posted on: 9 April 2020 - Categories: Higher Education Answers to frequently asked questions from university students on how the coronavirus might impact higher education. A: Universities are doing what they can to ensure nobody misses out on teaching because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and can discuss arrangements with students who are not able to use or access alternative course materials and teaching. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The Government should require UK universities to partially refund tuition fees while online teaching is implemented. As a result, providers were able to use OfS Student Premium funding worth around £23m per month for April to July this year and £256 million for academic year 2020/21 starting from August towards student hardship funds, including the purchase of IT equipment and mental health support, as well as to support providers’ access and participation plans. Will there be a delay to the start of the 2020/21 academic year? list of people who have signed the petition. Students should not have to pay full tuition fees for online lectures, without experiencing university life. Impact of Covid -19 on university finances 1 1 | Introduction 1 /v } µ ]}v The Covid -19 pandemic has had an almost unimaginable impact on the United Kingdom. THE University of Cumbria has decided not to reduce tuition fees, despite teaching being moved online and the prospect of some courses not returning until 2021. University students will still have to pay full tuition fees if classes are online. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Furthermore, all assessments are being reconsidered to ‘make do’ and build up credits. The Government has been in close communication with partners in the HE sector and to help providers make informed decisions about their provision and, on 10 September, the Government issued updated guidance to the HE sector on reopening campuses and buildings. Universities have continued to provide high quality teaching and access to support since the pandemic began, and will be thinking carefully about how to continue doing so in the new academic year. Home Oxford students Fees & funding COVID-19 Financial support. The University has launched a new COVID-19 Hardship Fund (CHF) for the 2020/21 academic year. Universities are doing everything they can to make sure students are supported. UUK has responded to the announcement that the UK and EU have agreed a deal on a future trade agreement. The university will do what they can to address the complaint. On … Find out more about cookies. Every university will have their own established process for managing complaints, and will be mindful of the extenuating circumstances. If providers are unable to facilitate adequate online and in-person tuition, they should seek to avoid charging students for any additional terms they may need to undergo as a consequence – avoiding effectively charging them twice. (Photo: AFP/Geoff Caddick) Government recognises the challenges facing students and supports them in their desire to continue receiving the best possible learning experience from our higher education (HE) providers. By Rosalind Moran August 18, 2020 The longer I spent at university as an undergraduate, the more I realised I was paying for something other than a degree. My classes are all online—so why am I paying the same pre-Covid university fees? Government has been clear that we expect providers to ensure that continuing and prospective students receive the clear, accurate and timely information needed to make informed decisions. Cambridge will be open to students. Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. If students are unhappy, they should first complain to their provider, or the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. The scheme is administered by your college in conjunction with their own forms of support. ... You'll also receive our free e-book Top 50 Thinkers for the Covid-19 age. Hundreds of thousands of students whose lives have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic have signed a petition calling for tuition fee refunds. The data shows the number of people who have signed the petition ... difficulty if they cannot recruit additional student numbers from the UK to replace the international tuition fees … ... Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom, Telephone: (0191) 208 6000 From outside the UK dial +44 191 208 6000. A: Universities across the UK will be teaching and providing a high-quality learning experience for students this autumn. In deciding to keep charging full fees, universities will of course want to ensure that they can continue to deliver courses which are fit for purpose and help students progress their qualifications. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, module teaching, timetabling and assessment information is being kept under review. We expect that HE providers will be open for the autumn term, combining online teaching and in-person tuition in ways that they consider appropriate which minimises risk. As we all continue to adjust to lockdown and working from home, I want to give you an early and honest view of the current and likely future severe financial impacts of the pandemic on the University, and outline the actions that we are already taking to mitigate these, and the further actions that we will be considering in the near future. by country as well as in the constituency of each Member of Parliament. Universities are working closely with PSRBs to make sure that the qualifications students are awarded hold their value and meet the requirements of accrediting bodies so as to enable students to progress smoothly into their chosen profession. Universities will be providing more detailed information to existing and new students in the coming weeks. Academic year 2020–21. This funding is provided in addition to the usual financial assistance programmes which are available to students. The OfS has published information and guidance for providers and students, and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has also published a series of guides to support providers to secure academic standards and to support student achievement during the pandemic. Student Loans Company has confirmed that students will receive their scheduled or next instalment of their maintenance loan at the planned start of their summer term, regardless of whether their university or provider has made alternative arrangements for teaching. Government is in the process of responding to a report published by the Petitions Committee on 13th July 2020, relating to the impact of COVID-19 on HE students. Universities are working hard to provide remote teaching and support so that students can achieve the required learning outcomes for their course of study. UUK has responded to the Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson's latest announcement on the return of students to universities in January 2021. Students who are unable to access online learning due to a lack of internet access, or a disability or a caring responsibility, should contact their university over the phone for advice. 2517018, Registered Office: Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HQ. A: Although there have been some calls for exams to be cancelled, it will be down to individual universities to decide how to assess students, whether to continue with an examination, or find a different way to establish the grade. It is important that students continue to receive a good standard of education, and they are entitled to make a complaint if they feel that their HE provider has not taken sufficient steps to appropriately respond to this situation. Coronavirus / Covid-19 Tuition Fees Information. The quality of online lectures is not equal to face-to-face lectures. They are working with agencies that regulate exams and assessments, and are thinking about the different types of courses to make sure that assessments are appropriate.Find out more on the … Is the University planning to offer tuition fee refunds in the light of the coronavirus outbreak? Universities are doing everything they can to make sure students are supported. Universities UK registered Charity No. If you want to study in the UK, unfortunately it doesn’t come cheap – around £12,200/US$16,120 is needed for living costs alone (and that’s if you don’t study in the more expensive London). A: How universities assess students will depend on the course and the university. Hundreds of thousands of people signed an online petition to refund tuition fees for 2020-21 due to Covid-19. Refund Us Now, a new group founded by Glasgow University … In the first instance, students should speak to their provider to see if they can resolve their complaint. SLC issues updated guidance for applicants, current students and those repaying their student loans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Current UK student visa requirements stipulate that you must have at least We use cookies to make this service simpler. However, the university has outlined some of the measures it has taken to mitigate unforeseen costs accrued by students during the Covid-19 crisis. How and when universities resume activities on campus will depend on the university and its specific health and safety measures and the needs of staff and students, as well as the wider public health advice and guidance in their nation. One university was told … This position is in line with that of the Department for Education and with Universities UK, which has stated that ‘where there is wide-ranging support for active and ongoing learning and progression, students should not expect any fee refund from their university’. The UK’s research work plays a vital role in our economic prosperity but is at risk from a range of income losses as a result of coronavirus. It is not a The response can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/302855. This includes making them aware of any potential for changes at the earliest opportunity. Are exams going to be fair if they are delivered online? Students with questions should go their university's dedicated webpages about coronavirus. Any refund would be a matter for universities, so we are not considering a write-off of tuition fee loans. Read more: Can I get a refund on my university fees … Can students request a refund on their tuition fees? The Government’s clear expectation is that HE providers should make all reasonable efforts to enable students to complete their studies. The student and staff wellbeing website has a dedicated page for Coronavirus / Covid-19 information relating to tuition fees. All students should be reimbursed of this years tuition fees as universities are now online only due to COVID-19, with only powerpoints online for learning materials which is not worthy of up to £9,250. These pages will include the most up to date information and advice, as well as what students should do and who they should contact if they need any additional support. Covid-19 information for current students. letter in response to the NUS has more detail on this. To support short-term cash flow, the Student Loan Company will bring forward £2.6 billion of tuition fee payments for the 2020-21 academic year. The only name It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. This topic was debated on 16 November 2020, This response was given on 24 September 2020, Higher education providers must deliver high-quality courses. Government is in the process of responding to a report published by the Petitions Committee on 13th July 2020, relating to the impact of COVID-19 on HE students. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman or to the Wales: Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, Northern Ireland: Higher Education Quality Assurance, England and Wales: Office of the Independent Adjudicator, Scotland: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, UUK response to the government’s latest January return plans for university students, UUK response on Turing Scheme for students to work and study abroad, UUK response to announcement that the UK and EU have agreed a deal on a future trade agreement. Processes to be operated flexibly, accessibly, and will be providing more detailed to! 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