MINISTERS are under increasing pressure to compensate university students for the educational and financial losses forced on them during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Campaigners spoke of students being “pushed to the brink” by the government’s mishandling of the crisis, as opposition MPs sought a rapid review with the power to recommend compensation.

The Department for Education has confirmed that students in England will not be allowed to return to in-person lessons before May 17, by which time most courses will have already finished.

Responding to an urgent question today, Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told the Commons that nearly a quarter of students – some half a million – were yet to return to their term-time accommodation.

Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Daisy Cooper called on the government to double to £700 million the funds made available to students facing financial hardship and suggested a speedy review with the aim of compensating students, along with an apology for “wrecking” the academic year.

Emerson Murphy of University of London Rent Strike told the Star: “Students have been repeatedly forgotten by this government, locked out of any real pandemic support while being forced to pay thousands for empty rooms and online classes. 

“Many are being pushed to the brink, turning to foodbanks and racking up over £20,000 in debt.  A pathetic few million for hardship funds here and there just doesn’t cut it. 

“The government must step in to issue full rent and fee refunds, end job losses with a full bailout and reverse the marketisation which made the universities so vulnerable in the first place.”

Labour’s shadow universities minister Matt Western accused ministers of maintaining an “exam-room silence” over universities reopening.