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<p>The department has been working closely with the higher education (HE) sector to
ensure it provides essential support for international students who have decided to
remain in the UK or have been unable to travel home due to COVID-19. Universities
have an obligation to ensure that students have continued accommodation and access
to essential services in the UK for the duration of their stay.</p><p>We are pleased
to see that the sector is making every effort to enable students to continue their
studies – including moving learning online either in the UK or in a student's home
country – so that their teaching and assessment can proceed, and that universities
are offering a range of support to students, including support for catering and cleaning.</p><p>The
government also recognises that many students are facing, or will face, additional
mental health challenges caused by the global outbreak. Many HE providers are bolstering
their existing mental health services and adapting delivery to means other than face-to-face.
Providers have responded quickly to transform mental health and wellbeing services,
showing resourcefulness, and there are many examples of good practice.</p><p>The government
has worked closely with the Office for Students (OfS) to help clarify that providers
in England can draw upon existing student premium funding to provide hardship funds
and support disadvantaged students impacted by COVID-19 and international students
qualify for this. Providers are able to use the funding – worth around £23 million
per month for April, May, June and July – towards student hardship funds, including
mental health support.</p><p>In addition, the OfS recently announced the Student Space
platform, which seeks to bridge gaps in mental health support for students arising
from this unprecedented situation. Funded with up to £3 million by the OfS and led
by Student Minds, it is designed to work alongside existing mental health services.</p><p>Universities
are autonomous and responsible for setting their own fees. In deciding to keep charging
full fees, universities will of course want to ensure that they can continue to deliver
courses which are fit for purpose and help students progress their qualifications.
Whether or not an individual student is entitled to a refund of fees will depend on
the specific contractual arrangements between the provider and student.</p><p>The
government is applying discretion under the current circumstances to ensure international
students are not negatively impacted if they find themselves in a position where they
cannot comply with certain visa rules. On 16 June, the Home Office updated their visa
guidance to provide greater certainty for international HE students in the UK impacted
by COVID-19; this guidance includes the latest information for those who might have
questions around visa expiry, switching visa category within the UK and distance learning.
It also provides reassurances regarding distance learning, confirming that students
will be permitted to study partially online for the 2020/21 academic year, provided
they transition to face-to-face learning as soon as circumstances allow, and that
that those studying by distance/blended learning will be eligible to apply for the
graduate route provided they are in the UK by 6 April 2021 (and meet other requirements
of the route).</p>
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