Art & Design University students enrolled to study their courses specifically for access to facilities, which is often the main focus of Open Days and promotional content. These facilities are closed at present due to COVID-19. 

These courses are the least adaptable to online learning. Students are missing out on learning a huge part of curriculum, decreasing the skillset that they enter the workplace with. Even when replaced with digital skills, loosing on practical education will have a direct effect on the range of job roles final year students will be employable for, particularly Fashion Design. We believe that whilst it was necessary to adapt, Art & Design degrees no longer resemble close enough to what was signed up for. 

These courses are the least likely to benefit from no-detriment policies with a huge importance and grade percentage from Final Major Projects which will need to be completed post-closures. Without access to facilities & technician support most Art & Design final year students can’t complete their final outcomes which were crucial for portfolios. The hindrance and damage to portfolios has the potential to damage job prospects & earning potential, the consequences of which will be exasperated by student debt.

Utitlies are not currently being used to run technical faciltities, machinery and computer suites. Some staff will also be receiving wages from Government furlough schemes. Our fees are no longer required to cover these costs. In the case of cancelled degree shows Universities are saving thousands of pounds that would have been budgeted specifically for that.

For the reasons listed above we believe that we are entitled to reduced fees for the time period that Universities have been closed.