Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Rejected
Paragraph: 34
While it is too early to know what effect the Covid-19 outbreak will have on...
Recommendation
While it is too early to know what effect the Covid-19 outbreak will have on university courses in the next academic year, there will not be a return to business as usual. We hope that all universities will be able to effectively deliver every university course to the standard that students are entitled, but if this is not the case students whose courses are affected by the Covid-19 outbreak in the next academic year should have the same easily accessible recourse to seek a refund or to repeat part of their course that we have recommended should apply to students in the current academic year. Any new arrangements that are put in place to better enable students to access refunds for tuition fees, where they believe they are not receiving the education they are entitled to, should be available to all students whose courses are affected by the Covid-19 outbreak in future academic years.
Government Response Summary
The government confirms that any actions taken regarding student refunds or course repeats will apply to students in the 2020/21 academic year, thereby rejecting the recommendation for such arrangements to extend to students affected by COVID-19 in future academic years.
Paragraph Reference:
34
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
We expect that higher education providers will be open for the autumn term, with a blend of online teaching and in-person tuition that they consider appropriate and which is in line with public health guidance. To help providers make informed decisions about their provision, in ways which minimise the risk to staff and students, the Government has issued updated guidance on 10th September for providers on reopening campuses and buildings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening- buildings-and-campuses/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses. from SAGE. The guidance coheres with and sits alongside all other relevant guidance, including sector-based guidance where appropriate. The Government announced on 6 July 2020 that maximum fees in academic year 2021/22 would remain at £9,250 for a standard full-time course, the fourth year in succession that maximum fees have been frozen. As outlined above, the Government is working with stakeholders to take forward the recommendations made by the Committee, and any actions taken will apply to students in the 2020/21 academic year.