Stay in college or risk degree, Cambridge students told

CAMBRIDGE students have been told they will not be able to graduate if they leave their accommodation during lockdown.

The university’s leaders have been accused of “strong-arming” students into staying in college accommodation during lockdown by invoking “ancient rules”.

Several principals have written to students warning that if they leave without permission to go home they will be in breach of statutes that require students to live within the university’s “precincts” during term time.

This is defined as being within three miles of Great St Mary’s church for undergraduates and within a 10-mile radius for graduates.

“Full-time students are required to keep terms of residence in Cambridge in order to be awarded their degrees,” the senior tutor at Jesus College said.

“If you do not have college’s permission to study remotely, you will not be allowed to progress to the next year of your course or to receive your degree if you are a finalist.”

Students are furious at the warning, which came as Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, wrote to vicechancellors saying students should not go home, to stop Covid-19 spreading.

“A lot of us think if there is no academic or social reason to be here we would rather be with our families. We don’t want to be locked up and forced to pay for the privilege,” one said. “They are relying on an ancient rule which isn’t fit for purpose and essentially being used to strong-arm students.”

A Cambridge University spokesman said that the institution was following the government guidance by asking students in residence to remain in the city and to avoid any travel during the lockdown.