All university students in England are to be finally allowed to return to campus for face-to-face teaching next week, the prime minister confirmed on Monday, though many institutions will already have finished their teaching timetable.
About 1 million students who have continued to study online since Christmas, as other areas of society have begun to open up with the easing of lockdown restrictions, have been told they can go back to university for in-person studies from 17 May.
The move was announced by Boris Johnson as part of step 3 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. The returning students are being asked to take a Covid test at least one day before travelling back to term-time accommodation to limit the spread of any infections.
In reality, however, most are already back at their university addresses. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics last week found that 82% of students in England were already back at university, though their studies remained online.
About half of all students – those doing practical courses including science and engineering who need to access specialist facilities and equipment – were allowed back on campus from 8 March. The last to return next week will be asked to take three supervised lateral flow device tests three or four days apart on campus, then submit to tests twice a week for the rest of the summer term.
The delayed return for hundreds of thousands of students prompted anger from both vice-chancellors and students, many of whom have complained of being forgotten by the government in plans for leaving lockdown.
The universities minister, Michelle Donelan, said: “Our priority from the very start of this pandemic has been to help students complete their courses and graduate as planned, which is why I am pleased that the prime minister has today confirmed all remaining students can return to in-person teaching from the 17 May as part of step 3 of the government’s roadmap.
“It is vital that we make every effort to keep us all as safe as possible, and every student will be offered three tests on return to campus. I would strongly encourage students to make use of the free tests available to them.”
The University and College Union (UCU), which represents university staff, said the 17 May return made little sense for staff and students as most lessons will have already finished.
“The decision to return to in-person teaching on university campuses when classes for the vast majority of students have already finished is a distraction, placing more workload on to burnt out staff,” said UCU general secretary Jo Grady.
“This looks like a stupid end to a stupid year beset by government mismanagement. It would be much safer to delay any in-person teaching until September when many more students and staff will have been vaccinated.”
The Department for Education (DfE) also announced the launch of a graduate employment and skills guide, drawn up with universities to help pandemic graduates build skills and kickstart their careers at a time of huge uncertainty.
According to the DfE, the guide brings together “a broad range of tools, advice and resources into a five-step plan which will help pandemic graduates consider their post-university choices, identify and develop their critical skills, gain professional experience, and further their career while maintaining good mental wellbeing”. It will go live next Monday.
“I know that entering the jobs market can be daunting, particularly during a global pandemic,” Donelan said, “but I know that employers will recognise the resilience and strength of this year’s graduates and the essential role they will play in this country’s recovery.”
Students have campaigned for tuition and accommodation fee rebates because of the pandemic disruption, which has straddled two academic years, and there have been record numbers of complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
The government says it has provided an additional £85m in hardship funding for students in greatest need, on top of an existing £256m that universities can draw on.
