Universities opened halls at full capacity despite warnings of Covid risk

Some of Scotland’s most prestigious universities did not reduce capacity in student halls to allow for social distancing despite the “clear” risk of coronavirus outbreaks, it has emerged.

In a BBC Scotland investigation, to be broadcast tonight, some of the country’s leading principals deny that profit was put before the health of students when they urged undergraduates to return to campus, rather than deliver teaching remotely.

There have so far been 1,500 positive tests among students in halls, 10 per cent of all cases in Scotland since September 19. In some cases students have been ordered to self-isolate for two weeks in cramped flats, with residents complaining of “prison like” conditions.

The Disclosure programme found that while some universities cut the number of students in accommodation by as much as half, St Andrews University, the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in Glasgow, operated their halls at full capacity.

Eight others would not say whether or not they cut numbers to allow physical distancing.

Professor Stephen Reicher, a St Andrews academic who advises both UK and Scottish governments on the pandemic, said: “In many ways this was an accident waiting to happen… it was pretty clear that going back to university was a real risk".

Prof Reicher, as well as Devi Sridhar, another expert advisor to Nicola Sturgeon, spoke publicly about the need for widespread Covid testing when students returned but this was never done.

As late as 31 August, draft government guidance for Scottish universities said "work and study that can be done remotely must be done so".

This would have meant that many students did not have to travel to university to take part in their course, however, it was changed at the last minute.

The University College Union suggested that the change was made to allow universities, which feared financial catastrophe as a result of Covid-19, to charge students for accommodation.

Carlo Morelli, from UCU Scotland, said: "[It meant] that students are being told that they cannot complete their degrees and study, remotely. They will miss too much of their studies if they don't come to campus.

"And if you're telling students they have to come to campus, then they're going to have to take up the accommodation that's offered to them. So the push was from the universities to get students to come and take up their place in accommodation."

Financial analyst Louise Cooper said there had been an explosion of student numbers in recent years and universities had turned over their property portfolios to private developers.

But she said the "risk" of the properties being empty was generally being borne by the universities.

“The underlying model requires high occupancy, students in there, paying their weekly, monthly rents,” she said. “As ever, you need to follow the money.”

Edinburgh University did not reduce the capacity of its halls but its vice-chancellor, Prof Peter Mathieson, said the decision to bring students back was not financial.

"It was a decision driven by our belief that we want to provide the best possible student experience that we can," he said.

Richard Lochhead, her universities minister, has previously described financial concerns over a loss of accommodation income as “a consideration” that was taken into account when setting the guidance.

However, he told the BBC there were no "hidden agendas" that led to the blended learning guidance.

He said: “We've done our best. I accept we'll look back on this and think we've made mistakes, because we're all dealing with a very difficult situation, where there are no easy options.”