Covid: What's it like being a uni student in a pandemic?

Siblings (left to right) Ryan, Danielle and Jess Herbert from Swindon pursued university degrees during the pandemic

University life in the past 18 months has been anything but normal with limited in-person teaching, cancelled graduation ceremonies, student bubbles and a global pandemic.

We hear from three siblings from Swindon who had very different experiences of what it has been like pursuing a degree in a pandemic.

'Stuck in my room'

Danielle said home visits before the pandemic had kept them sane but border restrictions had stopped that

Danielle Herbert, 22, was studying for a BA in journalism at the University of South Wales in Cardiff and lived alone when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

The undergraduate had reserved a studio flat in a student accommodation block "before the pandemic was even a thing", knowing their friends would be living in the same building.

At the start of the pandemic, Danielle's accommodation provider decided only studio flats could bubble together. Danielle did not know anyone else living in a studio flat and their friends were living in a multiple occupancy flat upstairs, so they were unable to see anyone.

"My kitchen was in the same room, so was my bathroom and my bed. I was just stuck in my room all the time.

"I remember on Halloween, I spent it by myself, one floor down from my friends while they had a party as they all lived together.

"I wanted to be enjoying myself - but instead I watched a film to distract myself from the fact I knew they were upstairs having a really good time. That was probably my lowest point."

The University of South Wales said it had offered face-to-face learning where permitted by government restrictions

Danielle said before the pandemic, going home "kept me sane when university got too much" but they "couldn't even do that because of the travel restrictions", which were lifted on 12 April for travel across the border.

"Eventually, my accommodation changed the rules and allowed studio flats to bubble with a cluster flat. It meant I could have a drink and a meal with someone else.

"We paid full tuition. I spent less than six months in university this year and I don't get a graduation.

"It's not just the financial cost - it's the emotional price. I've paid the price with my mental health."

Looking to the future, Danielle said: "I feel like there are massive gaps in my learning due to the pandemic. I've not been able to go to any physical work placements. There are certain things I feel I should know, but I don't. It's no fault of my lecturers, but I just hope employers are understanding."

A spokesperson said the University of South Wales had "been committed to keeping learning going" and had offered "face-to-face learning when Welsh government restrictions have allowed".

The spokesperson added that alongside academic support, they had a wide range of support services available for students and the course team had ensured all learning outcomes were met, and students received the necessary skills needed to enter the workplace.

Graduation ceremonies will restart at a later date, "in line with Welsh government regulations and advice", the university said.

'Lonely and isolating'

Jess Herbert said: "I've essentially just taught myself at home for a year and paid over £9,000 to do it"

Jess Herbert, 24, read sociology and criminology at the University of Gloucestershire, and spent the majority of her third year studying online from her parents' home in Swindon.

She said with both of her parents working, she was at home alone until the evenings.

"I'd end up video calling my friend between 11 and 5 everyday just to have somebody there. We wouldn't even say anything. We'd mute each other and just sit there. It was so lonely and isolating."

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Jess said the pandemic meant her independence had been "stripped away" from her.

"Even though I lived at home before the pandemic, I still had a lot of independence.

"But all of a sudden, I wasn't making my own money, I couldn't leave the house, I had no mode of transport and I was doing uni at home so I wasn't going in and seeing my friends."

Her graduation ceremony is scheduled for the autumn and Jess said she felt like "one of the lucky ones".

"I have friends who graduated last year, and they still haven't heard anything about their graduation."

A University of Gloucestershire spokesperson said they have provided "rent rebate on university managed accommodation" and "bursaries and hardship funds to those who have needed it".

However, they have "not been in a position to reduce tuition fees" because they use it to pay for teaching and support services, the cost of which has "gone up, not down, as a result of the pandemic".

'I learned more'

Ryan Herbert, 21, is reading health and exercise science at the University of Bath and said online learning during the pandemic had given him the "ability to openly ask questions" and "learn in my own time".

"For a lot of students, it's quite scary to ask questions in a massive lecture hall.

"Working online, we could pop questions in the chat box and we didn't have to physically say something.

"I don't normally have time to write it all down. I was able to learn more in my own time. I could research, break down the lecture and truly understand it."

He said the exam period was less stressful because instead of being in an exam hall, it was an open-book exam, that he could complete from the comfort of his room.

"While I was still capped on hours, I had four hours to do a one-hour exam."

Ryan has been living in a student house during the academic year.

"I didn't know three of my housemates before living with them but we have become extremely close.

"Every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, all we could do is to sit down and talk. It forced me to get to know them.

"There was a lot less social stress and, despite not being able to go out and physically meet people for the majority of the year, I still managed to have a good social life and actually meet a lot more people - just from learning online".