Arts degrees forgotten about through the pandemic

University courses across the UK have been predominantly taught online via zoom, Skype or Microsoft Teams since the initial lockdown in March 2020. 

Despite all course being taught remotely, degrees in the arts category seem to have taken the hardest hit with people being taught to dance, act and create clothing via remote learning. 

This has led to student frustration with many feeling like they are being unfairly charged for a degree that is unteachable without face to face learning. 

To understand how students are feeling about this we have spoken to three arts students studying different subjects to see how they feel about degrees being taught online.

Oonagh Harney 20, is studying drama at the University of Greenwich she said “All my modules have been placed online which is hard with a drama degree due to it’s practical nature and I don’t have the space, I feel like arts degrees have been put on the back burner”

“It is making me feel very demotivated, I have a tiny space in my room that I am meant to be doing a physical theatre module in and it just doesn’t work

“I do believe that students should be refunded as I feel I am getting a part time course online, as that’s all we are receiving I feel we should be refunded as it just isn’t possible to do on Zoom”

Hattie Moors 20, from Edgehill University is studying dance she said “I had a module where usually it would be a musical performance, where I had to perform in an empty theatre space and it had to be shortened when the student travel window came into place, trying to do dance in my room is just not possible

“I feel like I am paying far too much and it isn’t what I signed up for.”

Sophie Ali 20, studies textiles student at Nottingham Trent University said “I feel for all creatives and hands on courses as we rely on campus for resources so studying just isn’t the same

“The main problem is lack of motivation not being around other creatives makes it harder to want to continue with the work” 

A spokesperson for Nottingham Trent University said: “We recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for our students and our top priority has and will always be their health and wellbeing. This has been at the heart of all our decision making and we are ensuring students can continue their studies and access the support and services they need to achieve their learning outcomes.

“We have, once again, introduced measures to ensure fair assessment for all students, this year on a personalised basis. We consulted closely with NTSU on these measures, and have communicated this to all students. We will continue to collaborate with NTSU and students and will keep our approach under review.

“In Fine Art specifically, prior to the winter break, our priority was ensuring the best possible access to our technical facilities while maintaining social distancing. This included extending our opening hours, recruiting more staff and ensuring the studios and workshops were opened at weekends.

“At the start of the current national lockdown we arranged on-line meetings for all Fine Art students to see how each student was faring, emotionally and practically. We’ve adjusted the formative assessments so that students can still receive robust feedback with advice for development and we’re now looking at the teaching schedule and the assessment tasks to allow more extended access to facilities once the national lockdown lifts.”

We reached out to the other Universities for comment but they did not respond.