Guernsey Press

'Our fees are still the same, yet teaching level is reduced' - uni students

UNIVERSITY students have adapted to work amid lockdowns both home and away.

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Callum Trebert is tested every three days at Keele University, must wear PPE and has cohort bubbles so his master’s in physiotherapy degree lessons can continue. (Pictured supplied by Callum Trebert)

Many are frustrated that the fees remain the same despite reduced teaching and a disappointing uni experience.

Callum Trebert said his cohort are tested every three days for his Masters degree in Physiotherapy.

'We go into booths in the sports hall to swab our own tonsils and brain, it only takes 20 minutes for the result,' he said.

'Even so they've put us in bubbles with visors and masks so we don't mix much.'

Face to face teaching was promised to Alana Golden but it has all been online: 'I'm on placement five days a week otherwise I would be going mad.'

Monica Ozanne is staying in Guernsey since everything is online for the foreseeable future.

'My university helped me pay for uni rent though,' she said.

'I have to fill in loads of forms for it but it's a pretty good outcome.'

Jenna Tostevin is going back to sort her flat out and is trying to claim money back for rent.

Law student Dan Brook said networking events would usually help to decide which area or firm to work in, which are now online.

'You can't network properly with partners or make a good impression for training contracts. It makes it a lot more confusing to know what I want to do after my degree.'

Honor Anderson specialises in print yet hasn't had any print workshop access all year and currently has no studio access.

Usually at this time of year her course would create three garments for a fashion show, which isn't going ahead.

'We're missing out on a huge opportunity and will have a big gap in our portfolios.'

Instead they are designing miniature garments and fragments of garments, and doing whatever they can.

'It's alright but it's very difficult to do a textiles degree from home.'

Ellen Argent has paid £4,500 for a house she has lived in for six weeks.

'One housing company in Plymouth has refunded all their students half of their rent for the year, but it's not my one. We've lost half of our uni experiences to Rona [Covid] and strikes.'

Tyler Horey is staying in Guernsey, and said although his course is ordinarily 90% practical based all lessons have been moved online.

'I want to go back but I don't want to be stuck in an indefinite lockdown in England.'

Students have reduced access to professional photography equipment, so examiners have been forgiving in marking.

'Which is good, but ultimately it's not going to equip you to be a professional photographer.'

Work experience has been cancelled too.

Given the lesser teaching provision he is concerned at tuition costs, he said.

'I've also paid three grand for a house I've lived in for a total of six weeks. I don't mind my rent not reducing in a way because it's a charity run agency, so they don't make any profit, but the tuition should be reduced.

'The only positive is it has forced me to think more creatively about how I work, but it's not worth all the negatives.'