*This petition is adapted from similar petitions circling other universities.*

As per government guidance, students are being encouraged to still attend university. We are paying FULL FEES for a compromised education (75%+ online).

The country is in lockdown so the student union, all uni sports, all on-campus facilities, bookshops, and cafes are CLOSED, and following the recent announcement of Tier 4 these restrictions are continuing and in many cases increasing in severity. 

Furthermore, due to Tier 4, the majority of students will not be able to travel back to University, to use the minimal resources that are currently available. 

We have reduced library hours and capacity. We cannot do anything other than stay at home and study. We have no safety net policy in place, as with the 2020 graduates. 

This places unimaginable pressure and stress on students. We have no reassurances, no work life balance, our mental health is suffering, we are paying full fees - yet we are expected to perform at the usual standard. 

Our whole university experience has been impacted. We cannot go to university sports or clubs, access campus facilities, or stay at the library for an extended period of time. With no work-life balance and at least a month of staying at home studying in one room (potentially longer), students' mental health is at risk, which will undoubtedly affect their performance. In addition, many students' home environments may be unsuitable to study or complete exams in (such as noise and being confined to a single room), which will not allow them to work to their full potential. Many students will be hindered by the coronavirus pandemic directly affecting them or their loved ones and their mental health could be impacted hugely by this. In this current academic year, the university has not done enough to support its students, with a lack of proper teaching and support. 

It is about time the University of Leicester did something to protect the welfare of their student body. A safety net would alleviate so much pressure and allow us all to focus on what is actually important in our education: learning and bettering ourselves. 

Therefore we are asking the University of Leicester to introduce a mitigation system, as they previously did for the 2019-2020 students, in order to bring fairer results for 2nd/3rd year undergraduates and postgraduate students.