Coronavirus: Cambridge moves all lectures online until summer of 2021

Institution believes social distancing measures ‘likely’ to be necessary into next year

Deserted streets in Cambridge amid the UK's coronavirus lockdown. Reuters

All lectures at the UK’s Cambridge University for the next academic year have been moved online due to the coronavirus outbreak, the institution has announced.

The prestigious university is the first in the country to introduce such measures for next year, and said it was “likely” that social distancing would remain necessary until at least next summer.

Some smaller teaching meetings may be possible if they meet social distancing requirements, it added.

“The university it constantly adapting to changing advice as it emerges during this pandemic,” a spokesman said.

“This decision has been taken now to facilitate planning, but as ever, will be reviewed should there be changes to official advice on coronavirus.”

The university moved all of its teaching online in March as the UK went into lockdown to slow the spread of the virus. Students have been forced to sit exams virtually.

The UK’s university regulator earlier this week said students applying for places next year should be told with “absolute clarity” how courses will be taught before they make their choices, warning universities against promising a return to normal in the next academic year.

Nicola Dandridge, of the Office for Students (OfS), told a parliamentary committee on education on Monday that prospective students should be told what kind of experience they will receive before they accept offers.

University fees for British students can cost more than £9,000 (Dh40,437) per year. Fees for international students can be much higher.

Universities are able to charge full fees even if course are taught online.

The UK has experienced Europe’s worst outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Its death toll passed 40,000 on Tuesday and is second only to the United States.

More than 250,000 confirmed cases of the virus have now been reported, amid growing criticism of the government over its handling of the crisis.

The country nevertheless began the first steps of a cautious reopening earlier this month as the government laid out plans to begin reopening schools and businesses in the country.