Having applied to attend University in November 2019, we as students had no idea what 2020 would bring. Our courses have been completely changed to become teachable online and we have missed out on core trips and use of facilities that would in a normal year be at our disposable. As much as they say we are getting the same standard of teaching, I have to disagree.

We have not been able to do any practical work at all this year, with a majority of courses being put entirely online meaning facilities such as the murder house are completely unusable - one of the main reasons people would have picked the University of Gloucestershire. We have missed out on field trips which cannot be replicated online, therefore we feel like we have missed out completely. Learning online just is not the same, you are in a sense teaching yourself a degree you have never studied and it is so hard to motivate yourself, which our lecturers have agreed with. 

As with accommodation, we’ve been told to go home for an entire month over Christmas from the 4th December - 4th January that means we have paid £781.76 in rent (based on an enhanced room in Pittville at £23.43 a day) for a room that we were not allowed to go back to. Now with the heightening of tiers it could be a while before anyone can move back into halls as we have been advised not to come back until 25th January which is another £492.03 in rent for a room we aren't living in, totalling £1,273.79. We are paying extortionate amounts in rent for rooms we've been advised not to live in.

As students this has increased financial difficulties with many students in overdrafts and not having money to live on. This financial pressure as well as having to put up with the constant lockdowns and self-isolations which have had a dramatic effect on mental health, we have also experienced issues such as no hot water or heating, the wifi not working, the gym and the bar not being available and not being allowed guests round. All things we were promised when we signed the contacts back in March 2020. 

My fellow students and I, am calling on the University of Gloucestershire to give partial refunds on tuition fees and accommodation fees as this year has been completely different to what we agreed to pay for, and a partial refund is what we feel is the right thing to do given the situation we have been thrown into, and would be greatly appreciated by all.