Most students at UK universities do not expect to receive any more face-to-face teaching this academic year, according to a survey.

Vice-chancellors have pushed for all learners to be allowed to return to campuses after Easter, citing the potential benefit to students¡¯ well-being and development. Only students on priority and practical courses are receiving in-person tuition at the moment because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But a of more than 1,000 full-time undergraduates conducted for the Higher Education Policy Institute found that 56 per cent did not expect to receive any more face-to-face teaching this academic year. Forty-four per cent did, according to the survey, which was published on 1 April.

Some institutions, such as the universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews, as well as the London School of Economics, have indicated that they do not expect to resume face-to-face teaching before the end of the academic year. There have been suggestions that, in England, the Westminster government will push back the full reopening of campuses to mid-May ¨C usually the start of exam season ¨C or later.

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Even though most students did not expect to receive any more in-person tuition, the Hepi survey ¨C conducted by YouthSight ¨C found that two-thirds of respondents were currently living in their normal term-time accommodation, compared to 34 per cent who were not.

Rachel Hewitt, Hepi¡¯s director of policy and advocacy, said that despite ¡°talk about the student ¡®return to campus¡¯¡­these results clearly show that many students are already in their term-time accommodation, despite most not expecting face-to-face teaching to return this academic year¡±.

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¡°Governments across the UK should take heed of these results in developing their plans to ease restrictions,¡± Ms Hewitt said.

Among other findings, the survey found that two-thirds of students had not received any financial reimbursement from their university or accommodation provider because of disruption caused by Covid-19. Around a fifth (19 per cent) had received reimbursement from their accommodation provider, while 13 per cent had received reimbursement from their university, and 2 per cent had received reimbursement from both.

Overall, 54 per cent of students said that they were satisfied with the quality of online learning that had replaced face-to-face teaching, compared to 26 per cent who were dissatisfied.

Most students ¨C 61 per cent ¨C said that they were satisfied with how their institution had handled their remaining assessments for the academic year; 22 per cent were not.

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In an echo of previous surveys, however, 63 per cent of respondents said that the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health.

Ms Hewitt said that despite ¡°challenging circumstances¡±, university staff had ¡°provided an online experience that most students are satisfied with¡±.

¡°However, universities will need to continue to be mindful of the impact that the pandemic is having on students¡¯ mental health and what this means for the delivery of their support services,¡± she said.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com