Morning Lynchy, not got any experience of the universities you’ve mentioned but do of current students.
Don’t know if the situation is the same in English FE but might be worth checking.
My daughter is starting 3rd year and was only informed last week that she’s not to physically attend at all this semester - it’s all to be done online from home. We’d applied for various flats and hadn’t been successful so saving a fair chunk of cash.
The OH’s daughter is starting university in a few weeks, booked private halls when she got accepted, paid small deposit to enter into contract etc. Got an email 2 days ago to say the same thing, virtual learning until Xmas, do not attend university.
Slight kicker here is also got an email saying the first payment for her £7K halls bill is due in 5 days.
She phoned them and there’s no leeway in that contract, she has to pay for it all. They also confirmed that of her other 9 flat mates all had indicated they won’t be using the accommodation until January.
So she won’t be going either as there’s no opportunity to meet either her new flat mates or people from her course as they’re not attending either.
We were very worried she’d become isolated on her own in a new city so she’s staying at home too - just the OH is having the pleasure of having to pay for the empty accommodation from now until Xmas