UK Universities Have Slapped Fines of £170k on Students For Covid Breaches

UNIVERSITIES across the UK slapped fines amounting to £170,000 on students nationwide for breaching Covid safety rules in the first weeks of the academic year.

An analysis carried out by the Guardian newspaper using the freedom of information act has revealed that 28 universities across Britain fined students for breaching Covid rules such as household mixing, social distancing, and mandatory facemasks. Students have appealed that many were forced to flaunt guidelines in order to socialise and make friends at a time when mental health is in crisis.

The University of Nottingham dished out the most fines, with a third of the national figure coming from the institution. They received £58,865 in fines, which they say will go towards funds for student wellbeing. They were followed by Leeds Beckett, Oxford Brookes, Manchester University, and Aberdeen as the top colleges for penalising students.

Larissa Kennedy, the president of the National Union of Students, claims ‘it is absolutely unacceptable that universities have felt it necessary to issue obscene fines and harsh punishments’ to students. She says that colleges ‘should be providing care packages with food, household products, wellbeing materials, and general necessities at no extra cost’ during this difficult time.

Universities UK, which represents over 120 institutions, says that they ‘are taking Covid safety measures and government guidance very seriously and students will have to be informed of the consequences of breaking these rules’.


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Oisin Sweeney

Oisin is an Irish writer based in Seville, the sunny capital of Andalucia. After starting his working life as a bookseller, he moved into journalism and cut his teeth as a reporter at one of Ireland's biggest news websites. Since joining Euro Weekly News in November, he has enjoyed covering the latest stories from Seville, Spain and further afield - with special interests in crime, cybersecurity, and European politics. Anyone who can pronounce his name first try gets a free cerveza...

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