Corona Virus & University Fees: I have no lectures, am I entitled to a refund?

kayakkidcs

Hi there,
I'm a self-funded final year university student doing a health care course. We finished all of our taught modules before Easter/corona virus. During our final semester we were only due to be on a placement in the medical field but that has been cancelled due to the risk of being exposed to corona virus.
As such Im paying my fees but not receiving anything for it. Am I entitled to a refund?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Deleted User]

 Are you still obliged to complete a placement? Will the university provide it when this is over? 

kayakkidcs

Nope. It's been cancelled by Health Education England as its unsafe.
Arrangements have been made by the government which mean that we can now graduate with the hours and experience we have gained so far.
As such we will not have anything provided when it is over.
We are effectively done, just submitting a project from home that we did the Taught Lectures for before easter.

neilmcl

I can't see how you think you're entitled to a refund of fees when all the taught modules (that the fees pay for) have been provided and completed, and you;re getting a free pass with regards having to complete a placement.

kayakkidcs

Because the last semester would be all practical placement.
So 200 hours of placement over the remaining weeks which is the experience that we pay for. Across each year we do approximatly 200 hours of lectures and 600 hours of placement. So in terms of practical hours its 25% of our yearly content that we are not getting as well as the fact that that exposure is a vital educational tool.
I hope that makes sense?

Dr_Crypto

Is this a nursing course or something like that? 
Count yourself lucky you aren't having to pay to work which is effectively what the NHS makes people do on these placements.
I think the full answer is still no as the fees cover all the other things provided by the University not specific items of tuition or placements. This came up a few times during the strikes and the answer was generally no unless there were specific problems with particular courses - https://www.oiahe.org.uk/

Potbellypig

kayakkidcs said:

Because the last semester would be all practical placement.
So 200 hours of placement over the remaining weeks which is the experience that we pay for. Across each year we do approximatly 200 hours of lectures and 600 hours of placement. So in terms of practical hours its 25% of our yearly content that we are not getting as well as the fact that that exposure is a vital educational tool.
I hope that makes sense?

I mean it's a valid question, however I'd be careful how much you want to poke that stick. What's to stop them going down the road of refunding you but take away your graduation and tell you that you'll be charged the 25% and you'll complete the placement when it's safe. 

kayakkidcs

@dr_crypto - It has effectively been paying to work for the last 3 years - unfortunately thats how it works which is a bit mad.
Also the thing is we aren't really getting other services at the moment which is frustrating. No library access, no practical equipment to practice. Its just us at home with google.


@potbellypig - I've thought about this too, worrying about poking the bear, but was thinking they cant remove a registration once they register me in a few weeks. They are planning to graduate us as normal, there is no option to defer the placement and do it at a later date.

Its all a bit odd and surreal.