When Jesse moved into her halls at Sussex University, she was allowed one guest to help her move in. The university had given her a 20-minute slot to drop off her bags and say goodbye to her mum, so she planned her arrival precisely. Like most students leaving home for the first time, Jesse was anxious. But unlike previous school leavers, Jesse would be part of a student cohort confined to their halls, unable to hug new friends.
The first year of university is as much about growing up as it is about academia. Yet for this year’s students, their first term of independence will be spent in relative isolation. Just weeks into the term, Scotland temporarily banned students from visiting pubs while Health Secretary Matt Hancock refuses to rule out a Christmas student lockdown.
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