My name is Natalia and I am a first year student.

Whilst the government has laid out various measures for different sectors , it is clear that higher education (eg; university) has been forgotten. 

Many universities are considering moving teaching online this upcoming academic year, following the decision made by The University of Cambridge. Online learning undermines the quality that students pay for. The standard of education expected cannot be achieved through a laptop screen. Why then should students continue to pay the full tuition fee for a lesser quality of education? 

We are paying for teaching time we are not getting. On top of strikes, we have now lost months due to the pandemic and could lose at least another semester if not a year. 

The wider aspects of University life will no longer be available or will fundamentally change as a result. 

Since lockdown in March, thousands of students returned home yet were forced to pay rent for empty university rooms. Though myself and some others were lucky enough to be released from our tenancy contracts, others weren’t as lucky and continue to pay full rent. Furthermore, many returning students have already signed contracts for accommodation for the next academic year, uncertain if we will even return to university given this shift to online learning. Is it fair that we are made to pay the full price for accommodation that will likely remain empty for months? 

This will disproportionately affect disadvantaged students yet none of this has been considered by the government. 

We demand: 

1. A Covid clause for students renters and guarantors
2. Reduction in tuition fees if the course is switched to online 
3. Refund of student fees for the term initially affected by Covid (March - June 2020)

Our generation and those after will already have huge debt due to the cost of higher education. On top of this, we will be paying for the decisions made during this pandemic now and in the future.

Please sign this petition, we cannot allow the government to ignore students rights!