It is a fair reflection that the stereotypical life of a student has been turned upside down by Covid-19.
As cases skyrocket across all age groups, thousands of students have been forced to self-isolate in Halls of Residence at universities around the country, in a far cry from the life they may have envisaged when they chose to enter Higher Education.
But whilst some have been well supported by their institutions, the self-isolation stories of others have been the stuff of nightmares, revealing diverse preparation levels and containment strategies between different Unis.
As Nottingham – a city of around 60,000 students across its two universities – is rumoured to be heading for Tier 3 lockdown restrictions, Platform compares the experiences of self-isolating students at different unis around the country.
Loughborough: Community Champions and supporting mental wellbeing
A short trip down the M1 from Nottingham, Loughborough is one of Trent’s biggest rivals, but has thus far has only recorded just over 200 positive cases, according to the University and College Union.
We spoke to 21-year old Georgia Johnston, from Essex, who is in her third year of a Criminology with Social Policy course. Having tested positive for coronavirus, experiencing all of the main symptoms, she has been isolating voluntarily since October 10, with the University making it mandatory for her and her 11 flatmates four days later.
Loughborough has established its own test and trace system – Connect and Protect – with the Students’ Union creating the ‘Covid Community Champion’ volunteer scheme, with students on and off campus helping with food and parcel deliveries to those in self-isolation.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Allison, has visited several self-isolating flats and ordered a Tesco delivery for the first flat that went into self-isolation.
Despite some criticism of the food, Georgia has praised those involved in Loughborough’s response, particularly her Head of Department, who told her to prioritise mental wellbeing over her course.
“He was happy to give us two weeks off to re-adjust to life as usual, as I wasn’t able to get out of bed let alone attend lectures.
“I am in a catered hall, we’re being delivered meals however it is one meal, there is no choice so often I don’t eat it.
“As I am Covid-positive I was locked in the flat very quickly when I found out, so I didn’t have a chance to get any shopping.
“The university seems to be well-prepared and in control and we were all aware it would be inevitable that coronavirus cases would appear and increase.
“I wasn’t expecting to test positive so quickly, but this is definitely a government failure rather than blaming the university.”
Manchester: “I don’t think a rat would have eaten the food they left for us”
As students returned to university en masse in late September, Manchester was one of the first cities to be hit hard by the influx of new arrivals.
1,700 Manchester Metropolitan University students were told to self-isolate last month after 127 tested positive for coronavirus, with students reporting police and security patrols around accommodation blocks and low morale amongst residents.
Across the city at the University of Manchester, the situation was slightly better. 19-year old History and Spanish student Ronnie McIntosh, from Flitwick, Bedfordshire, went into self-isolation on September 26 for 10 days, along with her 8 flatmates, after she tested positive.
But Ronnie has blasted the response of the Uni, who only offered to help provide food after originally telling Ronnie’s flat that they could not help with providing provisions.
“I was told that the Uni can’t provide us with food and that we had to try and find friends who could deliver to us or book a delivery slot.
“Living in Manchester – a Covid hotspot – this was imaginably very difficult.
“Everyone we knew here was self-isolating, and it was our second week here, so we didn’t have a large number of contacts to ask to deliver us food.
“The university did then email us to inform they’d been working with Co-op and Sainsbury’s to open more delivery slots for students.
“We then received 3 large boxes of food as seen in the photo the day before our isolation ended.
“It was all pre-cooked meals rather than substantial things such as bread, vegetables and meat. It did have various vegetarian options in there, but I don’t think a rat would’ve even eaten the food they left for us.
“It also came so late that we’d organised our food by then.”
Although she was offered pastoral and mental wellbeing support throughout, the experience has left Ronnie critical of UoM, with a widespread feeling amongst students that neither of the Manchester universities were prepared for a spike in coronavirus cases.
“UoM promised face-to-face teaching and two days in it all got moved online, which resulted in timetable clashes and issues with the internet.
“The university have been silent about when we will be on campus and how we will do our exams, which is understandable as the rules change every day, but within five days of being here most people I knew had coronavirus.
“Why did they let us come to Manchester, which was a dangerous hotspot from the start?”
Sheffield: Fresh fruit and veg and supportive phone calls
Ronnie’s friend Bethan Scarr, who is also 19 and lives in the neighbouring town of Ampthill, studies Mathematics and Education at Sheffield Hallam.
After one of her four flatmates tested positive, Bethan began isolating on October 7, before receiving a positive result herself three days later. She finished her self-isolation on Saturday, but her flatmates still have four more days to go.
Despite some problems, Bethan has said she has had a better time of it, thanks to support from her university, which according to UCU figures has around 1,017 cases as of Sunday (October 18).
Neighbouring University of Sheffield has 1,129 cases as of Thursday.
“I think the Uni has been prepared as it can be; they have a dedicated team to deal with isolating students (CHART), who are the ones who contact us if we need support.
“All learning has been online for the past two weeks in an attempt to slow the rapidly increasing cases.”
As well as regular emails from the student support team, Bethan was sent a text three days into isolation with a link to a form which could be used to order food packages, report issues and put down contacts in Sheffield who could help.
Two days later, the food arrived, containing fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, eggs, pasta and more, although there was no meat.
Tesco vouchers were also offered but were only eligible to those with larger students loans, meaning none of Bethan’s flat could apply.
However, Bethan has praised Hallam for their response, alongside the solidarity of her flatmates in getting through isolation:
“I got a call from the Uni and they were lovely, asking how I was feeling, how my flatmates were and if we needed any support.
“They were definitely there and ready if we needed help.”
Southampton: “Everyone I know gets tested every two weeks”
The near-chaos in the north has turned attention away from those in the south, who according to Alessandra Prelicz, are having a much better time of it.
The 20-year old is in her third year of an Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering course at the University of Southampton, which according to UCU had registered just 21 cases as of October 15. The story is much the same across the south coast.
“We have just a few cases here and the university has taken all the measures to keep everyone safe”, Alessandra said.
“For example, we had to complete a form and send it until September 7 to confirm details of when and how we’ll arrive.
“We also had mention whether we’ll be self-isolating or not. Our university runs a special programme and, if you wish to, you can get tested every two weeks.
“Because I came from another country, I had to self-isolate for two weeks and so, I was told I have to get tested on the last day of my isolation period.
“When I got out, I went to Uni to give them the tests. The results came through text after 48 hours.
“Compared to other universities in North, here the atmosphere is relaxed. I think the university is doing a great job by running this programme and everyone I know gets tested every two weeks.”
Nottingham: Work to do?
As of last week, the University of Nottingham was one of the hardest-hit universities in the country, with around 1,100 positive cases, following a peak of over 1,500 cases earlier this month. Nottingham Trent are yet to publish their figures.
But the stories from students across the country suggests a worrying lack of communication between universities about best practice over how to feed and support students and staff who are self-isolating, as well as protect those who have thus far avoided the virus.
More can, and should, be done to support students who have been told to attend university but find themselves trapped due to reasons beyond their control, whilst ‘paying a small fortune for the privilege’.
Have you had a self-isolation experience that you feel needs to be shared? Be sure to get in touch.
By Callum Parke
All images provided by our interviewees