The Covid-19 pandemic has continued to affect our lives across the board since coming back to university in September. Whilst we take our lessons from the safe confines of our rooms, halls and homes, the University has been loath to mitigate the damaging effects of the virus on their students' education. Students have been affected in myriad and unequal ways depending on their background, stage of progression or specific course, but there is no doubt that the effects have been harmful.

Students on science degrees have been shut out of their labs, art students have had their studio space removed and language students have missed entire semesters of language acquisition through residence abroad. All of these factors affect students' ability to perform to the level expected of them, yet whilst students' learning has been adversely affected, the University continues to apply the same assessment rubrics and criterion upon them. 

This must change. The University of Edinburgh must introduce a policy of 'no detriment' along the lines of 2019-2020 so that students are not penalised for not knowing what they have never been taught or been able to practise.