Not allowed to go home at the weekend, not allowed to mix with students outside your bubble, not allowed to have parties, maybe not allowed for Xmas?

[chomalungma]

I really feel sorry for students at Uni in Scotland.

Those students who are feeling isolated. Those who just want some fun and to experience student life.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-54285720

And break these rules and you could lose your university place

They get free tuition though still don't they?

Everyone is suffering at the moment. Students have to face tough restrictions because out of all groups of people in society theirs is probably the most socially active, therefore the biggest potential spreader.

Uni was probably the best time of my life so I can't imagine how awful it is for them

My life is certainly not hard compared to theirs, piece of piss really.

Only Scottish students get free tuition, they are all paying for accommodation or have maintenance loans or grants for living costs. Many were told they needed to be on site but are now only getting online teaching so could have saved ££

You missed not go to the pub.

Students are being treated like crap. But big house parties really don't help.

They get free tuition though still don't they

Always look on the bright side, eh..

I do feel for them. Being a student, away from home, when you are supposed to meet new people, find yourself, have fun etc

And if you're socially isolated, it's going to be very tough for those who miss home and their parents.

Students have to face tough restrictions because out of all groups of people in society theirs is probably the most socially active, therefore the biggest potential spreader

Strange that, when its the middle aged who have holidayed extensively around the UK and indeed abroad.
Who also made the most of Eat out to Help out.... infection rates were increasing long before Uni started last w/e.

Just more scapegoating.

@contrmary

They get free tuition though still don't they?

Everyone is suffering at the moment. Students have to face tough restrictions because out of all groups of people in society theirs is probably the most socially active, therefore the biggest potential spreader.

Only Scottish residents. And does this justify restricting their lives in this way? The accommodation is not free, only the tuition.

Fucking appalling, the way they've been treated.

Yes, it's sad but maybe the rule is for the best? Students in our community have been having big parties in their halls' gardens and now several have corona virus. Very considerate of the people they live among.

Yep it’s shit for them. However there are large outbreaks in Glasgow and Edinburgh so they need to do something. NS always clamps down harder than BJ.

I’m not getting free tuition! (what with being English)

And now I’m not allowed to go to the pub. Or indeed a cafe.

I do get why they are doing it obviously, and I can cope. But it’s still depressing.

I really worry about these students' mental health. Depression and other MH issues are already such a big issue in universities, and this is going to make it a thousand times worse and those suffering will slip through the cracks as who is going to notice something is wrong?

@rainylake

I really worry about these students' mental health. Depression and other MH issues are already such a big issue in universities, and this is going to make it a thousand times worse and those suffering will slip through the cracks as who is going to notice something is wrong?

I think this is what worries me most.

I get why they're doing it. But I feel for them so much.

@jasjas1973 we can socialise without being in big groups and with just family. That's the difference. One of the points of going to uni is meeting people. I met some of my long term friends from uni in queues to get into places....

Anyway it's the high number of positive cases in certain halls that have caused the strict rules to be brought in. When I was at uni as well as Freshers flu people had glandular fever and scarlet fever. The latter was passed around by people going to different unis to meet old friends.

I totally agree it's scapegoating. We're taking our daughter up to uni this weekend and I'm so sad, not because she's leaving home but because of what she's going to. I can see the Scottish restrictions being implemented in the uk soon. I look back on my uni days with such affection but it simply won't be the same for them. Its madness to force them to stay on campus - how can the state have the right to mandate that, they at students not criminals, it's like a police state!

Had a look round the campus of our local university. Students seem to be having quite a bit of fun. Not quite the frenzy of a normal Freshers Week - but not very locked down.

Rule of 6 in force (6 beers).

Hmm, I'm in two minds. There's definite downsides to this, but I think some students might benefit from the rules too.

My husband was in a dorm of 10 in first year, catered. Half the guys had dropped out by new year because they went absolutely feral without a homely environment and a vague semblance of routine. They went because uni was expected of them, and went totally off the rails.

My halls were self catered and I was part of a block of 18 split into three flats. We did hobbies, cooking and yes, got wasted together. But it was far more balanced, and none of us dropped out. I got taught to do my laundry by one guy, I helped another friend with her migraines and she held my hair back when I got wasted. My husband used to spend as much time as he could at ours.

So I think the routine and confinement might be a blessing in disguise for some students.

@rainylake

I really worry about these students' mental health. Depression and other MH issues are already such a big issue in universities, and this is going to make it a thousand times worse and those suffering will slip through the cracks as who is going to notice something is wrong?

This is a huge concern. The consequences of these draconian measures could be devastating.

There’s a bit on BBC now, freshers out in bars in groups of six. Looks good fun!

@thecatsthecats

That's an interesting perspective. I suppose it depends very much on the people you are with - and in the first year, that could be anyone.

Who is going to stop any student going home for Christmas or at any other time though?

Covid is currently raging round the student population due them having fun and experiencing student life. They were asked to stick to their bubbles/households and they haven't done this (although I do appreciate some have).

Yes the current restrictions suck but what do you expect the Scottish government to do? They cannot let the virus run unchecked. The students also mix in the general population and they cannot risk community transmission to happen if possible.

I know student life is not what this current cohort expected but this year hasn't been what anyone expected. As a resident and a student in a Scottish uni town understand why these restrictions are in place and I plan to adhere to them even though I don't live in halls or student accommodation and have not been attending any parties. Solidarity and all that!

Not feeling sorry for them after some dumbasses in St Andrews threw a party for their whole hall, had 40 odd people round or something and now they all have covid. You're supposed to be intelligent if you go to university, especially somewhere like St Andrews. The head of the university was furious, I hope they do lose their places. How many people have they infected as well from being that stupid?

They are going to uni knowing there is a pandemic still happening, what did they expect? If they wanted a party lifestyle, defer for a year and earn some money in that year.

You either want to prevent the spread of the disease or you don't. You can't really pick and choose what options you have, contact with people will spread it. If you don't want to spread it, have no contact.

@RedRumTheHorse

Well, we are always being told CV transmission is highest within households?
Thats all of us meeting up to see nan, grandad, friends family etc.

As i said, CV numbers were rising before Uni and only 1 in 5 told to isolate or quarantine are actually doing so, which of course inc Cummings, backed by Johnson and Hancock et al.

All this blame game is being done to divert from a shockingly bad testing regime.

All first year teaching should have been online. But that would have meant thousands of students would have deferred for a year, causing a hole in unis' budgets that ScotGov wasn't prepared to meet.

Most first year courses have something ridiculous like 4 hours face-to-face teaching to justify students being on campus. So students didn't really have a choice - they've been well and truly fucked over to keep the sector financially solvent and now they're being blamed for the second wave.

Yes, clearly not all of them have been obeying the rules but a % of every demographic group breaks the rules, that's real life.

I'm completely raging on their behalf, it's a total disgrace and up there with the care homes scandal.