The Student Room Group

Will university be online for 2021/22 and beyond?

I'm finding it difficult to justify going to uni if second and third year are likely to be "blended" or fully online. Is anyone finding the same?
I think its very unlikely that it will be online for that long. When i started in Sept we had a mixed approach. I was surprised how much in person we had. If the vaccines really work and people follow the rules (no houseparties when it doesnt allow) then maybe it will eventually get to the point where online is a rare instance. In September im sure the unis will be even more prepped. More testing may occur allowing us to go in. A tighter test and trace?

However as with all theres the risk of these new variants and others may appear. I think we have to be prepared for anything and adapt. If you cant adapt maybe this isnt right in these circumstances as with a click we could be in a lockdown. I really hope it doesnt get to that stage next year but theres always a slight doubt about the positivity but isnt there for anything? Plus in these circumstances is the perfect opportunity to get cracking with study as theres little else to do so little distraction! What else would you do if you didnt? Gap year is fine if you have somewhere to go to make the most of it but we dont know the situation with travel and job prospects so wouldnt it be a safer option to study? Of course its down to the individual but all i can say is consider your options and really think about whats best for you
Reply 2
Yeah, I agree! I know Cambridge had a fairly robust testing system where they tested members of each 'household' randomly each week. My own university (Birmingham) only began testing the most expensive parts of first-year accommodation in November but we always had access to the on-campus testing regime. So it will probably depend on unis and theirs students playing their part if universities have a strengthened testing system if we still need to test variants in September?

I think it's mostly the lack of social aspects that are putting OP off, that you can't currently go onto campus and meet other people in your lectures or seminars because they're all online. I feel similarly as a first year as I haven't really had the chance to make many friends without resorting to illegal gatherings.
Original post by Anonymous
Yeah, I agree! I know Cambridge had a fairly robust testing system where they tested members of each 'household' randomly each week. My own university (Birmingham) only began testing the most expensive parts of first-year accommodation in November but we always had access to the on-campus testing regime. So it will probably depend on unis and theirs students playing their part if universities have a strengthened testing system if we still need to test variants in September?

I think it's mostly the lack of social aspects that are putting OP off, that you can't currently go onto campus and meet other people in your lectures or seminars because they're all online. I feel similarly as a first year as I haven't really had the chance to make many friends without resorting to illegal gatherings.


Ah nice wish they did that with us, im at Birmingham City Uni they had testing before we left to go home and the test centre for symptomatic cases is right round the corner so its not too bad. I know for the first few months it felt pretty normal i don’t know about you? We could still go out meet friends as long as guidelines allowed. I do think we will be back to where we were in August sorta June time if all goes well but thats just my opinion. Its going to be a slow process but we will get there. Fingers crossed for second and third year. Me and my mates are looking at houses so will be easier to socialise with them. Feel sorry for the new cohort for 2021 as they never got to look round. Going in pretty blind however I’m hopeful for them as i think September will be pretty normal if people behave haha

I really hope that this SA variant doesn’t get out of hand as that could be a pretty big set back but they are working on altering the vaccine again for autumn so even so may be okay
(edited 3 years ago)
Absolutely agree! I'm from Italy but studying in Scotland, and to know that I will have to pay a huge amount of money (accommodation, living costs in general) just because I need to be at uni just for half the time or less doesn't make me happy at all.
Original post by Anonymous
I'm finding it difficult to justify going to uni if second and third year are likely to be "blended" or fully online. Is anyone finding the same?


completely.

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