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Cambridge Students Told They Won't Graduate If They Leave Accommodation During Lockdown To Go Home

Cambridge Students Told They Won't Graduate If They Leave Accommodation During Lockdown To Go Home

A senior tutor said students must 'keep terms of residence' to be awarded their degree, according to a new report

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Students at Cambridge University have been told they will not graduate if they leave their accommodation during lockdown, according to a new report by The Telegraph.

The newspaper reports that a senior tutor at Jesus College wrote: "Full-time students are required to keep terms of residence in Cambridge in order to be awarded their degrees.

"In order to keep residence, you need to live within the university's precincts during term time."

According to college principals, undergraduates are required to stay within three miles of Great St Mary's Church, and graduates within 10 miles, in order to progress their degrees.

The Telegraph reports that those in earlier years may also be prevented from progressing to the next year of their course.

Stock image of students.
PA

Longstanding university statues say that students must reside within university precincts for at least three quarters of every term, with a spokesman saying these statutes relating to residence 'remain consistent' with government guidance.

An update from Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen J Toope, issued to all students yesterday, outlined a letter from Minister of State for Universities Michelle Donelan MP.

The letter stated that students should not leave their term-time address to return to parents' or carer's homes until at least 2 December, and should instead 'continue to learn at university for the remainder of the term'.

Donelan said this was to 'prevent any further spread' of the virus, adding: "Any movement around the country will risk the lives of our loved ones."

Sharing the letter, Toope told Cambridge students: "We are expecting further detailed guidance from the Department for Education soon, but the Minister's letter gives us a very clear instruction about students needing to stay in their term-time address until the end of the lockdown period.

"Consequently, all students are required to remain in residence for the remainder of the term. This will help prevent any further spread of Covid-19.

Student accommodation at the University of Sheffield.
PA

"You will only be given permission to pursue your studies remotely on health grounds. If you think this applies to you then you should contact your College.

"Our main priority is to protect the health of our staff and students. Colleagues across the collegiate University have worked hard to ensure that we can all work, teach and learn in a Covid-secure way. I am hugely encouraged by the latest results from the University's testing programmes, which show that the number of positive cases identified have halved since last week.

"This new lockdown will pose new challenges for all of us, and it will be particularly important that we heed Government advice."

A spokesperson from Cambridge University said in a comment to LADbible: "The University of Cambridge is following UK government guidance given to all universities in keeping the University and colleges open, and in asking students in residence to remain here and avoid travel while the national lockdown is in place. Longstanding University of Cambridge rules on residence remain consistent with that guidance.

"Our main priority is to protect the health of our staff and students. Everyone across the collegiate University has worked hard to ensure that staff and students can work, teach and learn in a COVID-secure way."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Students, UK News, lockdown, News