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Around 40 per cent of students have seriously considered dropping out of university during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey.
More than 80 per cent of those polled said the pandemic had impacted their education in a negative way, with most citing less time of campus, less face-to-face contact with lecturers and more online learning as reasons, according to the findings, shared exclusively with The Independent.
The new survey of more than 2,000 students found 15 per cent “strongly” agreed with a statement saying they have “seriously considered” quitting university during the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, 25 per cent said they “tend to agree” that they have had serious thoughts about dropping out in the poll by Studiosity, a student support service, and Red Brick Research, a research agency.
A report on the findings said the 40 per cent of respondents saying they have considered quitting university was a “higher proportion” than Red Brick usually see in their work across the sector.
Students have seen a different university experience to normal during the pandemic, with many of their classes pushed online and different restrictions on socialising, sports and university society events.
Some are still waiting to be allowed back onto campus and for in-person classes and lectures to resume, after face-to-face teaching was limited to certain courses throughout the spring term.
The poll, which took place shortly after most courses were pushed online for England’s lockdown, found two thirds of the respondents who said they have considered dropping out had spoken to friends and family about this.
Fifteen per cent had turned to university support services, and 13 per cent a lecturer or teacher, the survey – which took place between 5 and 22 January this year – found.
On Monday, when England’s lockdown eased further, the National Union of Students (NUS) vice president for higher education called for “clarity” and said students “deserve better” amid ongoing uncertainty over plans for the summer term.
The government is yet to announce when all students will be allowed back on campus, after most students were told to stay put as their courses moved online, while many were still at home for the Christmas holidays.
From 8 March, all students on practical courses were allowed to join others on courses such as medicine and dentistry back on campus for in-person teaching, while others were still not allowed to migrate back to university.
In guidance over higher education in the spring term, the government said it will review options for the timing of the return for remaining students by the end of the Easter holidays.
Last month, Universities UK, which represents 140 institutions, warned the government not to take the “resilience” of students for granted and called for a full return to university from the 12 April stage of lockdown easing.
But University and College Union (UCU) said on Monday the decision not to lift restrictions on face-to-face teaching in step was the right move, with general secretary Jo Grady reiterating a call for England’s universities to teach online until the new academic year.
The Department for Education (DfE) has said the government is committed to getting all university students back to campus as soon as the public health situation makes this possible.
The DfE and UUK have been approached for comment on the survey findings.
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