Today I hosted a student Q&A with the Universities Minster Michelle Donelan, which I organised as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Students. We discussed the challenges higher education students have faced from the start of the pandemic started and particularly since returning to university in September.

Topics we covered included blended learning, accommodation costs, tuition fee reductions, testing and the return in January – as well as wider issues, like to the Government response to the Augar Review.

Everyone could agree that students have had a really challenging time over the past year, but there were lots of views expressed on the Government’s response. I’m planning another session with Michelle Donelan later in the academic year, as well as a meeting with the Science Minister on specific issues for postgraduates.