Coronavirus has affected the student experience immensely. From clubbing to lectures, first-year University students have definitely not received the experience that many had hoped for.
But how is student life in a pandemic different for people all around the country? As a first-year student myself, I wanted to find out how other students were finding their year at COVID Uni. Whether it be the rules set on campus, making friends or their mental health, each student around the country have all felt slightly different on the subject.
I gathered opinions from students at universities all around England on how their institution has dealt with the pandemic.
As a whole, we haven’t allowed students to speak about what their lives are truly like at university at the moment. Particularly for first years, this isn’t exactly how we were hoping things would go.
University Work
Student’s workload has varied significantly between courses, however, the consensus is that it has work has been intense for most.
An International Relations student described their typical week as four to six hours of lectures everyday, plus three extra hours of “on demand” lectures to watch online. There are also readings before each lecture and seminar.
“After six hours of lectures, the last thing I want to do is the readings for the next day.”
Since many students have stayed at home due to the third lockdown, the workload has been made more difficult. An architecture student said that they struggle with the amount of coursework they have received, which has put them under immense pressure.
“I feel like I’m drowning in [work] everyday.”
A sociology student said that working from home has meant they ‘struggled to stay motivated’ under the circumstances.
The university style of learning has been a disappointment to many. A biology student from Manchester said that they were promised ‘blended’ learning with small socially-distanced groups before starting first year.
However, after the first semester, there was no need to be in Manchester.
“I do question why I’m paying the exact same tuition fees. I haven’t stepped foot in a lab.”
Another Biology student at UCL also said that it was difficult. Without being face to face with lecturers in the classroom, it is more difficult to understand what is being taught. With a heavy workload, it can be taxing.
“You feel like you’re constantly surrounded by it.”
Social Life
Events turned online for freshers simply have not been the same.
A student from Nottingham said that it has been difficult to make friends.
“You can’t properly socialise unless you are willing to break or bend the rules.
“Apart from illegal parties, it’s all on zoom which aren’t enjoyable and can become draining after a while. It’s just not the same”
Although it seems that some people have been fortunate with flatmates, working remotely has meant that people struggle to make friends outside of this bubble.
One student said that their mental health has “Never been worse. I really don’t get along with my flatmates and work has been extremely stressful.”
Mental Health
With so much time spent in front of a laptop, the state of a student’s mental health has become more delicate.
A Liverpool John Moore’s student said that their mental health has definitely decreased when they moved into university. A couple of weeks into the course, facilities shut due to the regional lockdown. This included gyms, which was also important for this student’s wellbeing.
“I was probably at the lowest point I’ve ever been.”
Gyms appeared to be a big reason why mental health was worse for many students.
A Loughborough student said: “Now that gyms are closed, it’s a lot more difficult to look after myself, especially because student accommodation doesn’t really have the space for working out.”
It is also difficult for students knowing that they are missing out on the typical ‘uni experience’.
“Feeling like I’ve missed out on so many opportunities is something that I really struggle with. There’s always a feeling that it could be better and that is something that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get over.”
University Guidelines
Universities have all taken slightly varied interpretations of the rules. Most have stopped face to face classes for all subjects, some with medicine as the exception.
There have been more sympathetic approaches, for example, the UCL Biology course does not have exams for this semester.
Campus libraries and study spaces have stayed open for the most part, however, space cannot be guaranteed as a lot of them need to be booked in advance and they are limited.
As a collective, first-year students around the country have faced similar problems. Feeling that they have been robbed of the experience is just the tip of the iceberg. Pressure has been put on students to navigate University life and transition into the adult world from zoom calls and recorded lectures. Many have not even gone into their University building and are not using any of the physical facilities that tuition is being paid for.
The Manchester Biology student expressed the upset of the student population during this time.
“Uni students have been neglected by the government and students are paying the same for teaching that is not the same standard.”
University students have been neglected for far too long. The Government have left us out every time. Every plan and motion over the last year has swept us to the side lines. Primary and secondary schools? Face to face is of vital importance. Hospitality and retail businesses? Opening them as soon as we can.
But university students? Leave us to continue paying thousands for online education as we lose hope for our futures, become isolated and are told to remain home rather than starting our lives. Oh, and get blamed completely for the second spike of COVID.
We are being ignored. We want change.