South Yorkshire uni students 'forgotten about' in third lockdown
Calls are growing for tuition fee refunds as most teaching moves online
University students in South Yorkshire tell us it's "disgusting" they're paying thousands of pounds for their degrees as almost all teaching is moved online.
Because of the lockdown only sessions for certain courses, like practical subjects, are being taught face to face.
It's led to growing calls for refunds on tuition and accomodation costs.
Almost half a million people across the UK have signed a petition calling for a reduction in the fees for this year's students.
Meg Young's a first year at Sheffield Hallam University whose teaching is now completely online - she says she's not getting what she paid for:
"The fact that we're paying £9,250 a year to sit in our flats that we're paying even more for...I don't feel like I'm getting value for money. I think it's disgusting that we're paying for half an experience really.
"When we arrived at university in September I don't think any of us expected how different it would actually have been. Now it's the third lockdown and it's January 2021, I did not expect to be in this situation whatsoever. I'm just hoping that when I start my next year in September I'll be able to have more contact hours and more support."
Sheffield Hallam University tell us they "recognise that the university experience has been very different this year due to the effects of the global pandemic" and they're doing everything they can to "provide a fulfilling, enriching and safe experience despite the circumstances."
A spokesperson said:
"Student support services and some campus facilities remain available for those who need them. The costs associated with this continue, and fees are crucial for helping us continue to provide resources, services and support for all of our students."
But students like Meg feel like they're being shortchanged not just by their university but also by the government.
She says students have been "left out" of support:
"If you rewatch the announcement that the Prime Minister made the other day, there was not a single mention for us university students. Just like all the other lockdowns, we've been forgotten about once again.
"I was so grateful at the start. All three of my modules I was in person for about a month but students that are doing courses such as nursing haven't even been in once which I think is discraceful when they're doing a practical degree and they need the face-to-face teaching."
In the Commons yesterday the Education Secretary said:
"Just before Christmas the Government announced additional support for students at universities in terms of an extra package to help those youngsters that are most vulnerable.
"We'll continue to work with the sector to look at how best we can support students and the sector as a whole.''
Ministers and universities are advising students who don't have in-person teaching not to travel back to university for the new year.
It means many are paying thousands for university accomodation they're not using.
Another petition, signed by more than 30,000 people, is calling for student rents to be reimbursed for the time they've not spent in their accomodation this year.
A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said:
“Throughout the pandemic, our priority has been the health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff and we will continue to provide support to our University community, especially our students, who we understand this is a very difficult time for. We are looking into how we can support students within University-owned accommodation who are unable to live there due to Covid-19 restrictions."
A spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam University told us:
"The vast majority of the accommodation contracts and tenancy agreements our students have are with established private-sector providers as the University doesn’t have any accommodation of its own. However, we are working closely with accommodation providers to try and ensure that tenancy agreements reflect the current circumstances."