The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has decided to refund students who are unable to access their on-campus accommodation due to the current national lockdown.
In line with national government guidance, all courses offered at the RAU will be conducted online until at least the middle of February.
Although agriculture and related land-based courses at the university are vocational and include significant practical elements, they currently do not meet the government’s exemption criteria for practical programmes that can include face-to-face teaching elements.
The university, based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, has therefore confirmed that a refund will be provided to students who are not in their on-campus university accommodation for the period Sunday, January 3 to Saturday, February 20.
Vice-chancellor Prof. Joanna Price wrote to students to inform them of the decision, four days after the national lockdown was announced.
Prof. Price wrote:
In light of the current national lockdown and current government guidance that university students should not return to campus until the middle of February, we have considered our position regarding accommodation fees, recognising the importance of providing you with clarity around this issue as soon as possible.
“I am pleased to inform you that the university has agreed that a refund will be provided to students who are not in their on-campus university accommodation for the period Sunday, January 3 to Saturday, February 20.”
