Towards the end of July a statement was released by the university claiming that from now on “Every student will receive in-person teaching sessions” however upon the release of our timetables it is clear that for most courses the majority of teaching will still be conducted online (via online video calls). For some courses, all teaching is online. 

While it could be argued that the university has been motivated by the safety of its students - by that logic they would have never opened gyms, clubs or the libraries. Inside contacts at the university have suggested to us anonymously that the university was motivated by profit - from the money that can be saved by providing education digitally.

A poll we conducted on Instagram saw 84% of users (from 2575 users) say they prefer in-person lectures despite the university attempting to shift the narrative via emails to suggest that online learning was popular amongst students.

Students are only now learning this after they’ve paid for both their tuition and accommodation fees. It’s been suggested by numerous students that it seems odd the university would leave it to until after accommodation has been paid for to let students know they’ll be sitting in their rooms all day (something they could have done from home). 

It’s even more upsetting for international students who have had to pay extortionate quarantine hotel fees (upwards of £2200) just to come and sit in their accommodation and have Zoom calls.

• We’re asking that the University of Hertfordshire put students before profit and provide us with in-person lectures for all lessons on all courses.